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. 

Nostalgia: Brookside Gardens Fabric Design

I spent around ten years living in the Washington DC Metro area.  During that time one of my favorite places to go was Brookside Gardens.  Really, I love the entire extended Wheaton Regional Park.  I have taken many pictures there, including this one of the Japanese Tea House shown below.  When I read about the Spoonflower competition Kuler Spaces I knew that this would probably be the space I chose to explore.  I have been meaning to create some art with this garden as inspiration and this was an opportunity to do something really novel.  The background of the fabric is taken from the woven reeds/sticks that make of the ceiling of the teahouse.  I used the photo below as well as photos of flowers from the garden, turtles from the pond, swallows that I saw flitting around the teahouse and of course the Japanese Maple.
Adobe's Kuler program picks a selection of colors based on a photograph. The Spoonflower contest requires the designer to use only the color palette from their photo in the fabric design. The Kuler program is a fun toy to play with and there is an iPad and a browser based version of the software.   Because there was no other theme this week's contest is one of the most diverse group of entries I have seen.   Please consider voting.

Brookside Gardens

 



The color pallete selected by Kuler from my photograph



Farmer's Market Bounty

Farmer's Market Bounty close-up

This week's Spoonflower fabric design contest theme is Farmer's Market.  My design is based on the garden that the farmer's market fruit, vegetables and flowers are harvested from.  The color pallet is similar to my Garden Path with Chickens design.  If you get a moment, please vote in the weekly contest. 

First Fabric Sales and the Garden Path is Growing

I am so excited to share my first two sales from my Garden Path Collection on Spoonflower.  Both sales were of the Rose Leaves Ditsy pattern in the two different colorways shown above. Hopefully, the purchasers will share pictures of their projects with me so I can share them with you.

I just got in the fabric swatches from my entry to the Baby Animals contest on Spoonflower as well.  These prints are now for sale and are part of Garden Path Collection.  And this spring, that's how the garden grows.