Super Ghost Orchids

Born in NY, Patricia Cummins completed her undergraduate studies at Queens College, CUNY. Upon graduation, she moved to Florida, intrigued by the color and light of the subtropics. She continued her post-graduate studies at Florida International University. She has taught art for 36 years at Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Barry University. She has served residencies at 15 US National Park Artist-in-Residence programs. For 12 years, Pat has exhibited her work and presented seminars at Walt Disney World’s International Festival of the Arts and Flower and Garden Festival. Her work is featured in collections throughout the US. In 2015, her national park paintings traveled to Africa and exhibited at the American Embassy in Niamey, Niger. Her paintings were included in a National Park Exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington, D. C. Pat was awarded Elementary Art Educator of the Year in 2015 by the Florida Art Ed Association. Pat is currently painting at her studios in FL and Ulster County, NY.

My goal as an artist is to arrest nature’s motion, involving viewers as deeply as I can. As I make my artwork, I leave behind traces of feelings associated with my experience of each scene, sharing my vision of beauty and grace expressed through color and form.

The experiences of life that I find to be of greatest value are those that rest in the basic and seemingly simplistic. Garden fragrances and nature’s color and form all outweigh for me the more contrived and materialistic aspects of our life today. I paint the landscapes, the feelings, and the experiences that they create for me, the perceptions and sensations that collect as a result of a day at the shore, or under the shade of a live oak, or during weeks spent serving a residency at a National Park. If these sensations communicate with the viewer through my work, their connection and purpose are complete.

Super Heroes Wear Scrubs

People Are People
By Paul Simpson

We possess the ability to see our similarities as people, even if we often choose not to do so. Perhaps even more powerfully, we have the ability to focus on our differences, such as race, social status, and disability in order to unite and create mutual spaces of healing and hope. For over 40 years, American artist and illustrator, Marty Jones, has attempted to create such spaces both in his complex personal art pieces and in his commissioned works for international clients.

Jones combines traditional illustration with digital to open conversations about the qualities that can bring us back into harmony. As he says, “All people are people. We must get past the notion that we as humans can exist merely as ideas—not just a specific gender, or a specific political party.” Partially disabled by a degenerative neurological condition for much of his life, his work seeks to bring an acute awareness of the importance of seeing far beyond the superficial to reach internal understanding and eventually profound wisdom.

Marty Jones has risen to this challenge with his new series, “Super Heroes Wear Scrubs.” Currently consisting of six digitally illustrated pieces, this collection focuses on various healthcare workers—usually alone and captured in personal moments during COVID-19 patient care. In controlled collapse, these vulnerable heroes are caught in desolate, sterile hospital corridors, inviting us to imagine the complexities of their thoughts and feelings and, as conduits of experience, those of their patients and their families—and, indeed, of the world.

At its best, art can enable us to take advantage of our differences. Marty Jones creates such art—bold and intimate—offering us the opportunity to unite and become better people. Never before has this message been more relevant or necessary to the world.

My retail store can be viewed at https://society6.com/mjartscom

My life is about images. Especially in this difficult time, social media demonstrates the value of visual images. I’ve worked as a commercial artist for a really long time. I was born When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, and my childhood is punctuated by assassinations. My teenage years were filled with rage and protest; it is very strange to be living with this again.

I’m old. I have a Disability. Neither has stopped my 20+ years in business. COVID did that. My design experience goes back to the 70s. I’m a dinosaur. I learned things about work and perseverance that many in this century haven’t learned. I don’t make excuses. I meet deadlines. I work all night if that is what is needed to meet a deadline. I’m a very good listener, I have a lot of training in that area. Listening is key to understanding a client’s needs.

Capturing moments. Finding Dreamers. Illustration: Life as you perceive & interpret it. I’ve worked as an award-winning freelance illustrator for over 40 years, with clients across the world. I’ve exhibited my artwork in several local and national shows; one-man exhibitions, and I have two illustrations in the permanent collection of the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, Texas. My preferred media is digital painting. In 2015, I added digital publishing to my business, publishing four titles in the first year.

Superman

Harriet Forman Barrett is a full-time artist happily ensconced in the Hudson Valley, New York. The artist has been involved in the arts since the early childhood. Her journey officially began with her graduation from the High School of Music and Art (M&A) in 1965 where she received the Oil Painting Award. At M&A, she further discovered a love of sculpture, and jewelry design in addition to painting before moving on to Pratt Institute for her Bachelor of Fine Arts. At Pratt, she fell in love with jewelry design resulting in her professional career selling her work going on 54 years now. Through each medium, she invokes the power of collective spirituality, the feminine, the empowerment of being, and the careful balance within that. Forman Barrett’s artwork is held in private collections throughout the world. Her work has also been displayed in various locations from the 1960s to present day including at the Young Americans ’69 Museum of Contemporary Crafts Competition and Exhibition that was shown throughout the United States, the World Silver Show in Mexico City in 1973, Monmouth Museum in 1977, the Samuel Dorsky Museum Gallery in 2020, the Hammond Museum from December of 2020 through June of 2021, the American Artists Professional League’s 93rd Grant National Exhibition in 2021, and in Cunneen-Hackett Art Center’s One Woman Show in 2022. She is the Art Society of Kingston (ASK) Board Member 2023.

Exhibitions, Commissions and Collections

  • International Art Group, 2023
  • Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, Poughkeepsie, One Woman Show, Soulful Renditions (In Turbulent Times), May-Jun, 2022
  • Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, Member Exhibitions 2021
  • Art Society Kingston, Gallery Exhibitions, 2020 – 2023
  • Cornell Creative Arts Center, Winter Wonderland Gallery Show, 2021 – 2022
  • American Artists Professional League, 93rd Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club of New York, 2021
  • The Trolley Barn Gallery, Poughkeepsie, Gallery Exhibitions 2020 – 2021
  • Arts Mid Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY 2020 – 2023
  • Hammond Museum, North Salem, NY, shows from December 2020 through June 2021
  • Emerge Gallery, Orange Juiced, Petit, Something Blue 2020-2023
  • Gallery 40, What’s Your Favorite Color?, Memories, Poughkeepsie, NY, 2020 – 2023
  • Womenswork.Art, Shown from Afar: Art during the Pandemic, Poughkeepsie, NY 6/5 – 7/31 2020 – 2023
  • SUNY New Paltz: Samuel Dorsky Museum Gallery, Stay Home, Make Art, 2020
  • ARTBAR, Kingston, NY Mar 2020 – Pandemic
  • Art JuXtapose Gallery, Rosendale, NY, Mar 2020 – Pandemic
  • American Craft Council (ACC) juried Fine Craft Shows in Rhinebeck, NY; Baltimore, MD; San Francisco, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Dallas, TX; 60’s – 90’s
  • Monmouth Museum (NJ), American Handicrafts Competition and Exhibition, 1977
  • World Silver Show, Mexico City, 1973
  • Pratt Institute Manhattan Center (NYC), 1973
  • Young Americans ’69, Museum of Contemporary Crafts Competition and Exhibition shown in NYC and throughout the US

Many gallery shows throughout the years as well as in many private collections with jewelry, paintings, and bronze sculptures. Full listing of Exhibitions, Commissions, and Collections from the 1960’s – today available upon request.

My life work of 54 years has always been about our spirituality and the feminine as well as the metamorphosis of a person. I’ve always worked to provoke conscious thought of the struggles and dualities we endure. Always touching our youthful soul for the energy and spirit of the divine within. I’ve been graced with always trying to work with faith, and hope even through our darkest of times. To find the light, the connection of who we are in our strength as spiritual warriors to empower us forward. Each of the artworks, be it jewelry, sculpture, oil paintings, or oil pastels, represents all of the elements encompassing our life struggles and the power within.

Supernatural

Kay Heikkinen, a 28-year-old, Native American multidisciplinary artist based in the Hudson Valley, is renowned for her dynamic skills in painting, sculpture, and film. As a teacher, painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, she divides her time between her own practice and fostering the learning of others. A Sagittarius by birth, she possesses an adventurous and expansive spirit, continually exploring new dimensions in her work. Heikkinen’s academic journey began with a focus on ceramics and art education during her undergraduate studies at SUNY New Paltz, which laid a strong foundation for her artistic development. Her pursuit of an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts with a concentration in film further enriched her understanding of visual storytelling, allowing her to seamlessly blend multiple mediums in her creations.

Currently, Heikkinen’s artistic focus is on painting, where she deeply references art history to infuse her works with a sense of continuity and reverence for the past. Her paintings are known for their intricate detail and evocative themes, often serving as portals to realms that merge the mundane with the mystical. Outside of her professional life, she shares her home with two cats and a dog, whose playful presence adds a touch of warmth and whimsy to her daily routine. Kay Heikkinen continues to inspire her students and audiences alike, cultivating a sense of wonder and curiosity through her ever-evolving artistic journey.

In my supernatural still-life pieces, I capture the eerie beauty that lies beyond the veil of the ordinary. Through meticulous composition and intricate detail, I bring forth objects imbued with a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. Each painting serves as a portal to a realm where the mundane collides with the mystical, inviting viewers to glimpse the unseen forces that shape our reality. These works are more than mere depictions of inanimate objects; they are narratives told through the interplay of light and shadow, color and form, each element was meticulously chosen to evoke a deep sense of wonder and curiosity.

Painting, for me, is not just an act of creation but a process of revelation. As I work on each piece, I am keenly aware of the rich history of still-life painting, particularly the tradition of vanitas, which reminds us of the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death. By looking back at the past and drawing inspiration from these themes, I infuse my work with a timeless quality that resonates with contemporary viewers. The process is both meditative and deliberate, involving layers of paint that build up to create a sense of depth and complexity, mirroring the hidden layers of meaning within the scenes themselves.

To encourage viewers to look longer and delve deeper into my work, I incorporate hidden elements and subtle details that are not immediately apparent. These secrets within the paintings are designed to reveal themselves slowly, rewarding those who take the time to truly observe and engage with the artwork. This approach invites a prolonged contemplation, where each glance uncovers new aspects and connections, fostering a continuous dialogue between the viewer and the painting. I aim to remind us that even in the quietude of still life, the supernatural whispers its secrets to those who dare to listen, transforming the ordinary into a gateway to the extraordinary.

Superstarz

Born and raised in Baltimore, Derrick’s passion for Photography started when he was in high school but he took it more seriously in college when he enrolled in a digital photography class it opened his eyes to photography even more, and he hasn’t looked back since. He purchased his first camera during that time period and later started using his iPod as another camera source to take pictures just because it’s easy, convenient, and with the increase of technology with camera usage. There are no limitations to being creative.

They say art imitates life, I have a great eye for capturing my surroundings, and my photos imitate my surroundings. What I capture at the moment, I bring it to life. The photos I capture are symbolic and metaphorical because they represent the essence of life.

Most of what I capture is objects and things because they are just as important as people are when it comes to photographing subjects. There are no limitations on what I don’t capture. It’s not about where you create your art, it’s about the art you create. Create What Can Be Manifest.

Sur Les Pointes

Prof. Galina V. Volkova is a multidisciplinary artist and mathematician born in Lugansk, currently Lugansk People’s Republic, Russia. Her dual gifts comprised of passion for Fine Arts and Science. She graduated with an M.S. degree in Applied Mathematics from the School of Mathematics at Kharkov University (founded in 1803 as Imperial Kharkov University of South-East of Russia) and completed doctoral studies in Foundations of Mathematics (Axiom of Choice by Ernst Zermelo and Continuum Hypothesis). During her student years, she participated in the Exchange Abroad Program at Halle University, Halle-Saale, Wittenberg in Germany. She worked at the Space Science Laboratory, Radio-Physics Department of Kharkov University and Walter A. Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley, and the Office of the President of the University of California. Currently, she is teaching various courses in Mathematics, Computer Sciences, and Fine Arts at university (California State University at Chico), college (City College of San Francisco, Marin College, and St. Mary’s College), and high school level (Red Bluff High School).

She had been exposed to Fine Art since her childhood at the Museum of Fine Arts in her hometown of Lugansk, inherited drawing skills from her father, studied techniques from various Russian and American artists, and got a formal education in Art in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2014, she has been an exhibiting artist at the Pleasanton Art League (Museum-on-Main and Harrington Art Gallery in Pleasanton and Aspen Art Gallery in Walnut Creek, California), Livermore Art Association, Fremont Art Association, and Tehama County Arts Council (Main Event Gallery and TCAC Gallery and ArtWalk Festivals in Red Bluff, California). In 2022-2023, she completed the online Artist-in-Residence Program ‘Artist on Standby’ at Belgrade Art Studio, Belgrade, Serbia. In 2023, her mixed media painting titled “Bon Voyage” was selected for the “Love-2023” Art Exhibit by biafarin.com Toronto, Canada. Since 2017, her Art Studio has been established in Red Bluff, No. California. Her paintings could be found at the G7 Art Studio (No. California) and in private collections nationwide (including California, Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Utah, Oregon, New Jersey, and Texas) and Western Europe (Germany and Italy).

Links:

My art is based on the trilateral unity of the concepts of hope, harmony, and humanity as a spiritual foundation of art. Hope is the necessary condition for any creation to belong to the category of art. Harmony is a balance of the artist’s inspiration and materialized on canvas as a result of effort. Humanity reflects on our eternal search for the truth and healing through improvement. Art in all its manifestations should serve the self-knowledge of man’s purpose, as I believe, and implement it as a credo in my artwork.

The piece titled “Sur Les Puentes” is part of a ballet collection of my artworks. Appreciation for the ballet is an integral part of upbringing in Russian cultural tradition. Ballet performances along with lullabies and fairytales become precious ingredients for forming a set of favorite things and comforting places from childhood. My affection for ballet was cultivated by my mom in early years even before I learned how to write and read.

Classical dancing as a theme for painting was inspired and blessed for implementation by my friend – Professor Emerita and Russian Orthodox nun, the daughter of a professional ballerina who graduated from the Imperial School of Ballet in St.-Petersburg. Perfectionism through hard labor and determination is the essence of ballet dancing. The painting depicts a resting moment for the ballerina in training intermission.

Currently, I am working – among other things – on the augmentation of a dancing silhouette collection focusing on Anna Pavlova’s art and images. Pavlova is an appealing subject not only because of her great professional contribution to human achievements but also on the level of her individuality. As Victor Dandre, her friend, husband, and impresario, indicated in his book “Anna Pavlova in Art & Life”, it’s a combination of her qualities such as wisdom, intelligence, intuition, faith, and “extra-ordinarily child-like nature”. Those are steps to a hard labor habit raised to a degree of professionalism to manifest perfectionism in a non-perfect world.

Surf Ower A Lighthouse

Stanislav “Standa” Riha
Visual artist, photographer, and writer
Member of CARFAC

Born in 1952 in Prague, former Czechoslovakia. He grew up in Lesser Town (Malá Strana), surrounded by great medieval and modern art and artists that caused his desire to create. From early childhood, he enjoyed drawing and later painting; as a young man, he focused mainly on surrealism. His artistic attitude was shaped by many art courses in childhood, followed by art training by MgA Milos Saska and work in the set production of the Realistic Theatre.

In 1980, he lived for a year in Grinzing, Vienna, Austria, and then moved to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Enchanted with the natural beauty of British Columbia, he dedicated the first few years to realistic nature themes and then switched to Surreal and later Surreal-abstract creative work.

In the last three decades, I have been creating wall-mounted, cast resin, and aluminum sculptures combined with canvas and gold leaf, and exploring the computer as an art tool for creating digital artwork.

All my life, I have loved to create art full of emotions and feelings, “soul,” with the satisfaction of fun. I am interested in the balance and composition of colors and objects rather than the reality of the items.

The direction of the last two decades has been aimed at understanding and, through artwork, expressing the human struggle of emotions and adaptations. For the past ten years, I have been polishing my creative work in the Surreal-abstract style.

The main motto of my artwork is: Just as in a good story, the readers have space to create their image; in a good picture, the viewers can form their own account.

Surface Tension

Kevin Ducoing lives in West Seattle. He has lived in Washington since 1982 when his family left California and put down roots in the Pacific Northwest. Kevin immediately felt the draw of PNW aesthetic; damp, but clean and crisp, most times a bit more monochromatic than many other places.

His work reflects what may be the Pacific Northwest mindset: infusion of gray skies, dark forests, sounds muted by ancient beds of pine needles, and local lore brimming with ghost stories. Kevin feels acutely the interaction of this aesthetic in the small towns that dot the landscape and push up against or raze ancient forests. His desire is to express this duality with the feeling that it is actually we who are the ghost stories, and that the landscape may tell its own stories about us.

Our interaction with trees and forests runs deep in our existence. Where we are pleased to experience two or three generations of people, a tree easily experiences five, ten, or more generations of people.

My work imagines our most obvious legacy: our homes, our neighborhoods, our towns…experienced from the forest’s point of view. Are we just part of the background noise? Are we seen as an invasion or threat? In this collection, our presence is imagined as fleeting shapes in a dream or a ghost story.

In my more figurative works, the tension that comes with transition is the overall theme. I am attempting to convey this, and the emotion that arises from upheaval, with strong edges and simplified shapes, and the underlying texture (a byproduct of the initial canvas prep) representing consciousness.

Surfacing

Susan Bagrationoff is a professional surrealist whose body of work focuses on mythology and mysterious creatures. Faeries and folklore are the subjects of her creations using the beauty of nature for realistic reference. She works with multiple layers of acrylic paint in brilliant hues, using metallic mediums to give a magickal ‘vibe’ to her creations.

Susan graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2002 from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. In 2013, Susan started her own art education studio, Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons, which relocated to Kent, WA in 2016. As an active member of her community, she designed the “Hands of Unity” mural in Downtown Kent. Susan is a member of ARTrails, which is an annual art show that takes place in Centralia, Washington in late September. Recently, Susan has displayed works in exhibitions at Gallery B612 in Seattle. She also exhibits her art online through various organizations such as Biafarin, HMVC Gallery New York, and Las Laguna Art Gallery.

In a world of so much chaos, a brief trip into the realm of faeries brings beauty, peace, and magick into our dimension. I find our world to be a magical and mysterious place. Faeries have always held my fascination and I believe they thrive within our realm. Like us, they have many faces and many cultures. I utilize my artistic talents to summon these creatures so that everyone can experience their beauty and magick and inspire others to believe in what they cannot see.

My work is conjured onto canvas using acrylic paints with multiple layers and washes, often with metallic hues. Brilliant colors are used to enable the faeries to give off the feeling of their `vibe`, inspiring the viewer to discover the essence of these beings. The texture of their skin, hair, and backgrounds are vital to conveying the elemental qualities of each fae. I am constantly discovering new ways to bring my faeries to life so they can gaze upon us humans as we admire their portraits.