Sister Sister
“I have spent my life creating safe spaces for patients to reveal themselves and in turn, painting has given me that safe space to reveal myself”
The body is my medium. I see/ feel/ know the body as something that gives me inspiration. As a physician and artist, it is the language with which I am most comfortable. Studying Fine Arts at NYU during the late 60s was a time fraught with political movements and my training as both a painter and printmaker quickly combined using figurative expression to speak to the politics of the time. Gradually I embraced not only the political but also the personal and global questions of loss, turbulence, and suffering as well as triumphs and change. Painting the figure has evolved from a deeper appreciation of the hidden, the emerging, and finally the spoken sensuality of all bodies. I continue to observe and appreciate how helping people achieve health and wellness is an amazing gift and I take that positive energy and throw it into color, movement, and form. Medicine and art for me continue to be intimately connected as the body speaks sometimes directly and sometimes through innuendo but always revealing an inner joy and strength. My art simply is my visceral voice- the organic appreciation of the inner and visual collective self.
My process involves drawing from models, photos, or sculptures and then painting sections or parts to become a different whole. My language is the human body from which I approach my work both as a physician and as an artist. I am driven by symbolic parts of the body such as the spine and breast and inevitably those symbols unfold in most pieces. My pallet is drawn from the landscapes in which I live- both Colorado and Mexico and these colors inspire my work. Music as well is an essential part of my process and lyrics often are part of what affects my art, particularly the words of Leonard Cohen, Lila Downs, and Corinne Bailey Rae.
In these times of extreme political crisis, I have tried to expand my work to combine the joining of ideas and communality with figurative expression as a way to both recognize and celebrate that through diversity there will in fact emerge a union among people and recognize the critical impact this can have for society.
Sisters
She was born in a small town in Turkey. She attended elementary school, secondary school, and high school in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. She could not go to college and started working. At the age of 20, she moved to a seaside town, and that’s when she realized she loved painting. She gave birth to her first child, but the baby only lived for three days. She tried to get through this pain by painting. Most of the time, she conveyed her pain to her paintings and comforted them. When she opened a café and started running it, she exhibited her paintings in her workplace for the first time she did it as an amateur. She was painting without training. Years later, she took three years of lessons from an Art teacher in town. She learned to be original and use her imagination to paint, light, and shadow.
After living in that town for many years, she immigrated to the big city of Istanbul. She was attending exhibitions in Istanbul, making friends, and learning new techniques from them. She has organized many exhibitions. She started painting in a workshop with some friends. The texture experiments were doing their paintings in 3D. When she started a picture, she did texture and then reminiscent. They started selling these paintings through a company in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Cyprus. She painted over 5,000 paintings in three years. She was awarded a certificate from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism indicating that her paintings were worth a work of art. In 2018, she moved to New Jersey, USA with her husband and daughter. Now she is in the city where she loves to paint.
Songul Terlemez has two 1st prizes, one 2nd prize, and one 3rd prize in various competitions held in Canada, an online exhibition catalog.
Painting is my language, it is more effective than words. I can express myself better by painting more than the words.
My style is surreal and figurative abstract. I prefer to use female figures in my artwork.
After the first figure appears on canvas all happens spontaneously, sometimes painting becomes different than I plan. I love to feel myself in the changing.
The rendezvous of brush and canvas is full of surprises for me. The colors change according to the subject. Sometimes I can describe myself only blue and tones, sometimes riot of colors. I employ oil, acrylic, acrylic ink, and texture techniques on canvas. I feel more comfortable practicing on large sizes like walls.
When I start work, first look at the canvas and imagine the painting. Sometimes it takes a whole day across the empty canvas. Then everything appeared in my head and ready to paint. Mostly I create more than one canvas. Works change many times till they finish. I prefer to use female figurative because women are threatened by violence, injustice, and sexism in most cultures.
I intend to show the strength of a woman even when she is broken, the sacrifice of a mother for her children and human beings, and her colorful character to the audience.
“I want to leave a sign of life with my art!”
Sisters
Kim S. Lanier is a vibrant and emerging artist based in Houston, Texas. With a background steeped in music and creativity, Kim’s journey into the world of art has been both organic and transformative.
Kim grew up singing with her Father in church, which laid the foundation for her deep connection to music and performance. Her family owned and operated a successful country music show, The Alvin Opry, for more than 25 years, where Kim honed her musical talents. Over her professional music career, she achieved notable accolades, including winning 2nd place in the Houston American Idol Contest in the early 2000s and 2nd place in the Magnolia Opry Singer Competition in 1989.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and a diagnosis of Lupus marked a turning point in Kim’s life, prompting her to seek a new creative outlet. She turned to painting, discovering a passion that has since become her heart’s passion and soul’s salvation. For over three years, Kim has been dedicated to creating cheerful, colorful, and whimsical artworks that promote positivity and well-being. Her preferred mediums are watercolor, inks, and acrylics, with figures and nature being frequent subjects of her pieces.
Kim’s art is deeply intuitive and inspired by everyday life, conversations, and music. She follows her creative instincts, allowing the process to lead her to new and expressive forms. Each piece she creates is imbued with emotion, aiming to evoke feelings and stretch the imagination and introspection of her viewers.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Kim holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, Houston, TX.
Kim’s work has already started to make an impact, and she continues to gain recognition as a new artist. Her journey from music to art is a testament to her resilience and unwavering passion for creative expression.
As a musician and an artist, my work embodies a cheerful, colorful, and whimsical style that aims to uplift and inspire. Working with watercolor, inks, and acrylics, I primarily depict figures and nature, infusing my pieces with vibrant energy and positivity. Art is not just my passion; it is my salvation, a way to channel emotions and maintain my well-being.
The inspiration for my art comes from the world around me—everyday conversations, the beauty of nature, and the melodies of music. Having played music professionally for over 25 years, I found myself needing a new creative outlet when the pandemic halted my musical career. This need became even more pressing with my diagnosis of Lupus. Painting became a lifeline, a way to manage anxiety and keep my spirits high.
Art runs in my blood; both my Great-Grandparents were artists from the UK, and I have always felt a deep connection to the creative process. My journey into painting was a natural progression, one that has allowed me to continue expressing myself in meaningful ways.
My creative process is intuitive, and guided by an inner sense of direction and flow. I let the art lead, following where it takes me, and in doing so, I find a profound sense of joy and fulfillment. Each piece I create is an exploration of emotion and feeling, a reflection of my heart’s passion and my soul’s journey.
Through my art, I hope to impact others by evoking emotions and encouraging introspection. I want viewers to feel the colors and emotions within each piece, to let their imaginations stretch and their spirits soar. My goal is to create art that resonates on a deep, emotional level, promoting positivity and well-being for all who encounter it.
Sisters
Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years, she lived in many places, including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark and pets.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, picking up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor, and gouache, and her passion for hyperrealism.
Although self-taught, her dedication and talent have seen her work juried into 825 International exhibits. She has won 1253 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.
Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, 42 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”, Artists & Illustrators March 2024 Artistonish 2024 July edition, Observica Elite 2024, Art Closeup Magazine#26 Jan. 2025, & The back cover of Novum Artis #007, 2025. She has been featured in over 600 International publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you, the viewer …. That is the ultimate in self-expression.”
I am very drawn to shiny surfaces as well as transparent objects, especially when the lighting brings them to life. I look for beauty in everyday objects that most people take for granted or just don’t truly see as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. Shiny metal is one of those materials that can host endless visions. The light hits it, and the reflections are captured on the smooth, sleek surface. Animals, people, living things with character…an artist’s dream!
Skrova The North Cloud
Evy Olsen Halvorsen (aka Halvorsen Holstein) was born in northern Norway and currently lives in Kingston WA. Evy and her parents immigrated in 1956 to the neighborhood of Ballard in Seattle WA. After graduation from High School and some community college, Evy moved briefly to San Francisco before landing in Kitsap County with her husband and daughters.
After raising her daughters, and owning a couple of businesses, she continued her education at Cornish College of the Arts, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts, cum laude in 1999, in Painting and Printmaking.
Walking into my studio you will notice multiple canvases in progress. I get restless and move from one to another, sometimes setting one aside for months or years, until I feel or find a direction to go in. Occasionally going back to one I thought was quite finished and noticing something missing or amiss, a way to add content that makes sense.
Metaphors are fun and I enjoy playing with them but just as entertaining is developing a bit of mystery that clings, not wanting to reveal itself. I want to give the viewer and myself something to wonder about, muse about, something more than just an image. It’s a struggle to find the ideas buried deep in the canvas, deep in my brain.
Sky Tiles
Sylvia Bandyke, Royal Oak, MI, USA, is largely a self-taught photographer, having taken studio and art history classes in college. She began her art career by displaying photo collages in ArtPrize, an independent international art competition in Grand Rapids, MI, from 2014 to 2018. Subsequently, she has been juried into more than 100 group exhibitions in 24 states and accepted into numerous online international exhibitions. An award-winning artist, she keeps an eye open for interesting views of a subject while looking for hidden beauty every day. Most recently, she was a caregiver to her elderly mother and was able to create some memorable, unique art as a result of this experience.
I prefer using the collage format to integrate associated images into a cohesive unit that is even more compelling because of the embedded story. Having been a playwright and technical writer, I am accustomed to delivering content with a message. So now, as a visual communicator, I continue to provide meaning via the structure of the collage format, wherein the four photos confirm, augment, or even contradict each other if warranted. I enjoy offering the richness that the multiplicity of images provides, along with the impact gained through their thoughtful positioning. Ultimately, I intend to have my work act as a doorway to the viewer’s own mental and emotional framework regarding the collection of images, perhaps finding their own very personal meaning in them.
Skyward Aspens
Gayle Faulkner, with over 35 years of artistic exploration and creativity, stands as a seasoned watercolor, acrylic, and mural artist. Her journey has been marked by constant exploration, a playful engagement with diverse media, and an unwavering commitment to growth in the world of art.
Her academic journey, rooted in a BA in Sociology from William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri, initially led her to work with children, integrating art into their day-to-day experiences. Gayle’s passion for art eventually pulled her into a more immersive pursuit. She delved into Art and Design courses at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, unlocking her artistic soul. The willingness to ”put herself out there” coupled with years of hard work and a penchant for thinking outside the box, allowed her to undergo a major growth period.
Finally, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 quarantine became a catalyst for Gayle’s artistic metamorphosis, leading her to focus on acrylic paintings on canvas. Engaging in online courses and dedicating countless hours in the studio, has led Gayle to newfound success in her career as an artist.
In her current artistic chapter, Gayle has embraced the multi-dimensional world of layered acrylic painting. These layered landscape paintings pulsate with depth, intricate patterns, and whimsical interpretations, inviting viewers to step into a space that offers a sanctuary from life’s pressures. Her aspiration is clear — to guide everyone towards a place, be it a memory or a dream, where they can meander, savor the fragrance of flowers, feel the gentle breeze, lean against a tree, and simply breathe.
Gayle’s works have graced numerous exhibitions, gallery shows, and juried art festivals, earning accolades and finding homes in corporate and private collections across the globe.
In my art practice, I describe my creations as Textural Acrylics. This term represents the exciting experience of observing paint flow from the palette knife, forming captivating textures and colors. Each stroke channels emotion and every canvas captures a moment of creative inspiration.
My process is spontaneous – I start with a loose outline, sketch the composition, and then fully immerse myself in the act of creating. Throughout the process, music is my closest companion, its volume soaring. I dance to the rhythm, losing myself in the beats, and, on occasion, even letting out a song. My painting process is a multisensory experience, an immersive journey into the fusion of sound and color, where each note becomes a brushstroke and every stroke on the canvas is a dance of creation. I often liken my paintings to cherished children—it’s a relationship that involves nurturing, engaging in heartfelt conversations, and weathering the challenges of creative adolescence with boundless love and patience. With each brushstroke, I invest love, patience, and understanding, allowing the artwork to evolve organically. The end result is akin to witnessing a child mature into a beautiful, fully-formed adult—a testament to the transformative power of artistic expression.
When the viewer engages with my work, I want them to do more than observe; I want them to partake in the sensory journey. Inhale the delicate fragrance of blooming flowers, listen to the subtle rustle of leaves, lean against the painted tree, and simply breathe. My paintings are meant to cease to be static images—they become portals, immersive experiences where anyone is welcome to wander, explore, and connect with the essence of my artistic vision. Through my Textural Acrylics, I aim to create a sanctuary where the boundaries between creator and audience blur, and the shared experience becomes a celebration of art and life.
Slava Ukrayini – Condemn The Invasion
Susan Guihan is a printmaker, born and raised in New York. Susan’s work focuses on this motif which has been a major inspiration as well as a challenging subject matter. She finds it to be mysterious and meditative with the way the play of light and shadows fall on the forms of nature.
Susan embraces the lush and extreme contrasts. Susan transitioned from a painter to a printmaker when this medium captured her desire to explore more of a path to experimental possibilities. She works with the absence of color that the monotype printmaking process affords her. She feels this medium is one of the best ways to enrich the extreme lights and darks with the richness of endless shades of gray. The creative process of a monotype is equally as important as the subject matter itself. This printmaking technique is essentially a printed painting. Each piece is a unique image using printer ink and paper creating a surface that is unlike any other art.
Susan’s pieces have been exhibited.
My work embraces the absence of color. The monotype printmaking process affords me the ability to work with lush and extreme contrasts. I feel this medium is one of the best ways to enrich the extreme lights and darks with the richness of endless shades of gray. The creative process of a monotype is equally as important as the subject matter itself. This printmaking technique is essentially a printed painting. I have always been attracted to the landscape, especially the barren trees. They tend to evoke loneliness and a mystique that I find very alluring. I find this motif to be most inspirational and have a need to continually pursue it. It can come from the loss of a loved one or the times we are currently living in. This solitude is not only lonely but can be a source of comfort. I find it can embrace the fear of the unknown and the beauty that can come from it.
Slice Of Summer
Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”
Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.
Although self-taught, her dedication and talent have seen her work juried into 541 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 855 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.
Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, and 37 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, the cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”, & the latest, Artists & Illustrators March 2024. She has been featured in over 368 International publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
I am a self-taught artist working in water-based mediums, mainly acrylic, but also at times gouache and watercolor. I am a hyperrealism painter fascinated by the world around me. I am very drawn to shiny surfaces as well as transparent objects, especially when the lighting brings them to life. I look for beauty in everyday objects that most people take for granted or just don’t truly see as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. The shiny metal is one of those materials that can host endless visions….the light hits it and the reflections are captured on the smooth, sleek surface…people and animals especially the eyes…an artist’s dream! My future art plans are to paint the countless subjects I have chosen to become paintings and to share my art with as many people as I can.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”