Showing posts with label artist profile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artist profile. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Artist Profile: Dennis Herschbach





Dennis Herschbach is a retired education professor from University of Maryland.  As he approached retirement he wanted to explore an activity that could help his transition into retirement. Dennis always loved art and even got a minor in sculpture when he went to college. Both his father and father in law were artists.  So it was natural for him to investigate the art studios at the University of Maryland across the plaza from his office. It was there that he began to do independent study in painting with oils.  
Dennis believes art can transcend boundaries of belief and ideologies and he finds most of his inspiration from his garden and his travels. Of his work, Dennis says, 'I work a lot from nature, but I don't try to duplicate it; the camera can do a better job at this. Rather, I let nature guide me in the use of color, shape, line and space to create images that evoke a pleasant emotional response. Above all, I feel that a painting should be beautiful and speak to the inner self. I  strongly believe that it is through art that we can find the finest expression of what it is to be human.'

Some of my personal favorites are from his travels.  This yellow landscape is of farmer's fields in Kosovo.

"Caressed by The Summer Sun, Kosavo"  oil on canvas, 28.5" x 34" in

"The Green Tree", oil on canvas, 36" x 30" in
 This painting is the moonrise in Greece.  In life, this work almost glows from the layers of glazing applied to the canvas.
"Summer Moonscape, Alexandros, Greece" oil on canvas 36" x 30" in
Much of Dennis's work is also inspired by his garden.

"Spring Gold", oil on canvas, 36" x 29.5" in
Dennis's work is hanging at Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church at Powder Mill Road in Adephi, Maryland.  His opening reception is January 7th immediately following the church service, around 11:30. If you are interested in purchasing artwork, please contact Dennis Herschbach at drhersch@umd.edu. 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

“Souwere”

Goree Island scene 'floating' on glass with reclaimed wood frame
Souwere artist Abdoulaye Barry
 “Souwere” is glass painting.  There is an explaination of the process on the Senegal Soul blog.  I went to Goree island as a committee member of the Dakar Women's Group annual art show and visited with Abdoulaye Barry, a Senegalese Souwere artist who has been working in the genere since his youth.  M. Barry took us to a hotel/restaurant hosting his works and then took us to his small studio where he showed us works in progress and discussed the process of reverse glass painting. His art is distinctive for his landscapes of Goree island and his use of beach wood and reclaimed wood for his unusual and beautiful distressed wood frames. 
 
M Barry's work at the hotel  

 
Works in progress and our explaination of reverse glass painting at his studio

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Market Finds

This weekend my family went to the Irene Market rather than our usual trip to the closer Hazel Food Market.  Irene is a larger market in the town of Irene similar to an art fair in the United States but with way more food vendors.  I would definitely recommend paying a visit if you want to bring home some souvenirs from South Africa or are just looking for a great place to get gifts. 
ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
While there are several talented artists at Irene Market, the work of Michelle Penny of Gallery Seven caught my eye.  Her painting, Endless Possibilities, used with permission, is a sample of her work.  You can see Penny's palette is vibrant and her subject matter reminiscent of Marc Chagall.  While his work was about love and longing, Penny's subject matter is a more humorous and theatrical take on intimacy.  I will need to make a spot on my wall for one of her paintings. 
Another item that really caught my eye was the super cute hand-made leather shoes of Suki Shoes.  They make shoes for babies and toddlers and I had to get a pair for my little girl. 
The ceramic tiles of Tiled Tapestries turned my head because they reminded me very much of a cheerfully colored version of my treasured Motawi tiles.  The hand-made beads on the bracelets of Piccolo Jewellery & Glass were exquisite.  I also found out they have beadmaking classes not too far from my house.   
There are certainly other great finds at the Market I just wanted to share a few of my favorites.