ART Blogs ARE Fun and Educational too

"Jagged Edges" c Jean Bourque a 36 by 24 inch oil painting.

Blogs are so educational...

I scan the headlines from my own blog, I read the news of what's happening in the art world.
I read blogs by many artists and I learn a lot. Every artist I know, that does a blog has a different style and a different emphasis. As you can see mine is mostly trying to share opportunities and highlight art that has won awards as well as talking about the art leagues. While Susan's is about creating fiber art works and altered books and sharing that adventure. Harriett's is about her discovering a career as an artist and Michel's showcase her paintings and tells a bit about herself. That's what makes art and artists so fun; we are all very unique.

Follow the art world news by reading the feed on my blog. Watch the videos of Val's Art Diary to the right, scroll, down and click for a video art adventure. Then find out more about SC art and artists by reading my art blog and then by seeing these blogs; for an artistic adventure.

Susan Lenz Fiber Artist
Michel McNinch
Harriett Hilton Artistic Musings
and my website at
Jean Bourque

Enjoy...your days, Jeanee

The Rita Smith Gallery Opportunity

The Rita Smith Gallery is located at 3400 Forest Drive in Richland Mall in Columbia, SC and features numerous SC artists including many painters, jewelers, and potters. The newest artist Rita has added to her artist roster is Harriett Hilton a realistic painter from Orangeburg. Hilton's work often features scenes in nature and life. Her primary medium is acrylic and she typically works on canvas. Harriett is also a very active blogger and an excellent writer. Feel free to take a look at her blog at Artistic Musings. Harriett told me that the Columbia artist Michel McNinch was very inspirational to her when Michel spoke at the Orangeburg Art Guild a few years ago. Michel also has an art blog, you may want to read for more art info.

Rita Smith Gallery is currently taking applications for artists that are working in 3D; such as functional pottery, mosaics and unique items that do not already exist in her gallery. Her gallery has been there a long time and she has an excellent reputation. Even though I was only there for ten minutes, I saw quite a few shoppers and was impressed by this much traffic on a hot Friday afternoon.

The Rita Smith Gallery is located on the first floor of the Richland Mall. The way I got there was by cutting through Barnes and Nobles and then walking across the hall. For me, that was a great way to go, as I discovered a wonderful display of art magazines I had never heard of or seen before, including some that focused on abstract art which is my deepest artistic passion. As an avid reader, any time I can go through a bookstore I am very happy. Art and Books all in one trip to Rita Smith's Gallery in Columbia, SC. Fun!

While at Rita Smith's Gallery the work of Jean Berry caught my eye. She has done some wonderful horse paintings which you may want to take a look at. They are realistic and lovingly rendered. Go ahead and take a trip over to Richland Mall and get a look at all the exciting work at The Rita Smith Gallery.

I have to go now...
yours,
Jean Bourque

Ping:

Artista Vista at Nonnah's Part 1

April 26, 2007 was the annual Artista Vista. In the past Jean Bourque and Betty Cooper were artists on display at Nonnah's and had spent many years at Nonnah's for these events. We decided to go and see what our friends were painting these days. Entering the front door we encountered a large painting sitting on the sidewalk; in the doorway. We both recognized it and looked in side and there was Edie talking to people about her art. The walls were ablaze with brilliant colors; on acrylic canvases of all sizes.

I spotted Michel McNinch talking to prospective clients as well. She saw me too and waved. Michel had a wall filled with beautiful paintings depicted the marsh, landscapes and beachfront. These may have been inspired by her summers in St. John's Island, SC. I really admire her large oil paintings on canvas with their winding paths of water and other patrons of Nonnah's chatted to me about how much they liked her art.

I looked in the front room where I had shown my art in the past and saw it was filled with a variety of art by Jennie Branham. I can tell you Jennie is a very talented woman. She has been working in realism and abstracts, doing both equally well. She paints in everything from watercolor to oils and portraits to collage. One gets the sense that, Jennie can paint anything and everything, very well.

Bonnie Goldberg had her wall full of colorful paintings of women. I have been a long time fan of her art work and really enjoyed seeing her newest art. Her large unframed works on canvas; depict women that look interesting and artistic. They are shown here on Nonnah's web page for the gallery. Bonnie has her own painting style which is what makes her work so wonderfully, fresh and original.

Artista Vista as talked about in the State Newspaper at this link...
To be Continued....