Wednesday, Feb. 20 2013 5:26PM
From an artists’ perspective
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ReprintTina Garrett’s artistic journey doesn’t limit her to working her craft just locally in Lee’s Summit or Kansas City. Like many devoted artists, Garrett looks for inspiration and instruction in many areas. The following is a small snapshot of her creative journey, in her own words.
In March of 2012, just days after the public showing of Mary Ann Rhoads’ portrait, The First Lady of Lee’s Summit, I began my study of oil with my first merit scholarship to the Scottsdale Artist’s School under award winning artist Romel de la Torre of Chicago.
While there, I was introduced to the book Alla Prima, by de la Torre’s mentor, renowned artist Richard Schmid, 79-year-old artist famous for his Putney Painters Group (see link: http://www.southwestart.com
/articles-interviews/feature
d-artists/the-putney-painter
s-a-passionate-group). This is when I officially began studying Schmid’s method of painting including undertaking the arduous task of four weeks full-time painting “Schmid’s Color Charts.” The charts now decorate my studio and are an integral part of my painting process.
In September 2012 I and three other area artists traveled to the Wichita Center for the Arts for Schmid’s unavailing of Abbotsford House, commissioned by the K.T. Wiedemann Foundation. Schmid’s other great works were on display and I was able to meet him and his equally talented and lovely wife, award winning painter Nancy Guzik, in person. Schmid signed my book Alla Prima and was so kind as to tell me “Oh! I want to paint you! You, are a walking work of art.” This by far is the single best complement I have ever received and I was so stupefied by it, that I forgot all of the vital painting questions I meant to ask Schmid. However, what I gained in self-confidence will stay with me for a lifetime.
(http://www.richardschmi
d.com/Events.idc....Under Sept. 29, 2012)
In November 2012 my third oil painting, “Messenger” was juried into Scottsdale’s The Best And The Brightest Juried Art Show and Sale. (“Messenger” was part of the “Spirit of Life” Collaborative show with amateur poet Kathy Hofmann which exhibited at The Stanley Historic Event Space in July 2012). Over 3,500 students attend The Scottsdale Artist’s School annually and those that have attended in the past three years are qualified to enter, though only 100 works are accepted into this sponsored event recently featured in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine February issue.
While attending the opening for The Best And The Brightest Jan. 10, I was notified by Wanda Stillions of The Scottsdale Artist’s School that I earned an additional merit scholarship sponsored by RayMar Art and will return to Scottsdale in April to attend Composing the Portrait and Figure with artist Aaron Westerberg.
Cathy Dietrich, owner of RayMar Art kindly donates the scholarship funds annually to The Scottsdale Artist’s School in honor of her late husband John. (http://www.raymarart.
com/AboutUs.asp)
As not to waste a plane ride to Scottsdale, during my week I attended Painting the Model Indoors and Out with and another former student of Richard Schmid, the revolutionary artist Casey Baugh. To fully understand where I aspire to be as an artist see this link: http://caseybaughfineart.com/
Actually, there is an underlying story here. It may seem as though Scottsdale has something we in Lee’s Summit can’t have. A vibrant collection of award-winning artists that grace the halls of its schools and art centers and galleries and attract thousands of art buyers from around world every year. Why? Because 30 years ago community leaders came together to support artists in building a place where artists could gather, share ideas, solve problems and learn from the country’s best artists. But the fact is, many of the artists that teach there are not from Scottsdale. They travel there, even in 110 degree weather, from all over the country. Those same artist’s also travel to Atlanta and Chicago and many other cities teaching and exhibiting.
In fact, there are Kansas City area, recognized fine artist that actually live here, but they teach workshops in Scottsdale and Atlanta and travel back and forth. The reason these Kansas City artists are leaving to teach in other area’s isn’t the weather. It isn’t because there are no students here. It is because, in my opinion, these towns cultivated and built the facilities that could accommodate and welcome them. Just asking, where will Lee’s Summit be in 30 years? Where will I be teaching in three to five years?
It is important to note that I’ll hold my first workshop this summer in my own basement where I am outfitting a second studio space that will be able to accommodate six artists, myself and a model.
FYI Joseph Lorusso was written about recently in connection to Kansas City Mayor’s arts initiative.
I’d like to thank Mission Hills Arts and Fashion magazine for featuring me in this months issue. All you locals please pick it up. You can read the digital version here.http://www.missionhills
magazine.com/
And again here:
Thanks to American Art Collector magazine for the nice article on my upcoming exhibition at the Overland Gallery.
Please pick up a copy.
http://www.americanart
collector.com/
