Leigh Herndon Rozome

Leigh’s award winning mysterious rozome paintings tell a story, evoke an emotion, or give an impression and lend themselves to metaphor, and sometimes ambiguity. By being atmospheric and not being too literal, the viewer is left to complete the story as desired or needed, based on personal experiences. Leigh does not try to be too representational, and although she likes imagery, it is just a starting place. One reviewer described her work as poetic.

Leigh Herndon works daily in her Naples studio dyeing silk using rozome (Japanese kimono design techniques). Silk accepts dyes more brilliantly than any other fiber fueling Leigh’s experimentation with color and nature-inspired paintings. Rozome, or Japanese wax-resist dye painting, is infinitely more intriguing, much more flexible and painterly, and presents a new fluidity to the dye process which is captivating to Leigh and changed her creative process.

After learning traditional batik at the University of Montana, and obtaining a Master’s Degree in Fibers at Southern Illinois University, Leigh studied rozome with Kiranada (Betsy) Sterling Benjamin who learned from the Japanese kimono masters, while spending sixteen years in Japan. Mixing her own dye colors from the primaries results in custom colors that can’t easily be found elsewhere. Overlaying one transparent dye color over another creates an entirely new color, which she finds exciting. The versatility of hot wax used in creating the designs lends unique textures to the creations.

For Leigh the design process is a blend of planning, spontaneity, and experimentation with a great interest in the inter-relationship of edges of shapes within the designs. Frequently the process begins with a drawing on the silk, and progresses and changes with ideas that occur while working. This unforgiving medium doesn’t allow for covering up one’s mistakes, so some of the works are scrapped. Creating art is an exercise in problem solving and it carries into daily life with novel approaches to solving problems. She believes that art experiences are vital to children and adults, not only for personal expression, but for the lesson that there are many creative ways to solve a problem.
Leigh’s award winning works and wearable art have been exhibited in numerous juried national and international shows and solo shows in more than 12 states as well as the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and her work is in several private collections.

Marion Towns Artist

Welcome to the vibrant pastel world of New Zealand.

artist Marion Towns. Internationally recognised, Marion has a creditable list of major exhibitions behind her and her works sell to art lovers throughout the world. The chalk pastel medium Marion works with is used with skill and her choice of colours epitomises the New Zealand summer.

You can contact Marion through her website she welcomes commissions and sales by phone or email or studio visits.

Judy Lusted

Judy studied sculpture for two years at Chelsea College of Arts and obtained a BA.Hons in Fine Art and a Masters in Visual Art at Falmouth College of Arts. This background enabled Judy to develop a unique style. Spontaneous marking is the core of the work and from this source Judy draws out the imagery that excites her. Recently made one of the directors of the St Ives Society of Artists Judy is actively involved with local artistic events. Her work is exhibited locally and in London. 

Edie Hamblin Landscaping in Pastels

The creation of a painting that is satisfying to the eye is an exciting process. Practically everywhere I drive I see a painting possibility. Certain scenes resonate with me. I just have a sense that here is something I can get down on paper to enjoy at other times! I take snapshots and then back in my workplace I use the information as a basis for my painting. As I use the rich pigments of soft pastels I see images forming that say something about the view I enjoyed so much.

Melissa Anderson Studio

I paint flowers, still life, landscapes and figures. I am driven by the shapes and colors of the subject matter but only as a starting point. I am interested in the way the paint is applied to the canvas - brushwork and the mix of colors create the design. I am a contemporary impressionist painter. My canvas has a clear subject but I use color and tools to alter the design, softening the edges.

Usually the subject matter and source of a painting reflects the tenor of my life outside the studio. Flowers become important as they bloom in the yard, eventually making it into a vase on the kitchen counter. While drinking coffee, the vase beckons the canvas and brush. Landscapes and the magical horizon line draw me into the ocean line, the marsh, the mountain ridge. I often paint landscapes in a calm state with mystical wandering into the canvas. Figures, particularly female ones, can be especially alluring and mysterious. Who is this person and how does she fit into the room?

My paintings take on various stages. Usually the clean canvas is quickly covered in a thin layer of moving colors. The subject appears and I then start layering the paint to build the image, giving it weight. As soon as paint is applied, sometimes it is scraped and reapplied in another area. I start with brushes, often moving to pallet knives, layering the colors over one another.

Connie van Winssen

Connie van Winssen gets inspired by organic forms.

Composition, colours and contrasts are more important than the subject itself.

She abstracts by means of cropping, colour changes and the removal of/ or emphasis on certain aspects.

The pleasure of painting always comes first.

Powerful, expressive and knowingly accessible work is the result.

Monica Fallini Fine Art

It is through the art of painting that I express my feelings, passions and emotions. I work on a loose and free style. My inspiration comes from nature and I also base many of my pieces on dreams I had or someone else shared with me, mostly dreams with flowers on them. It is also important for the process of creation for me to have music I like playing as I work, and many times I dance as I paint.