Portraits of Michigan
Michael Mayday
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Arts
The Sage Center for the Arts hosted an artists' reception over the weekend to celebrate the opening of a new art exhibit. The exhibit, "Portraits in Michigan," features the work of 15 Michigan portrait artists, professionals and amateurs, ranging from World War II veterans to medical research scientists, until Oct. 13.
The reception featured critiques from Carl J. Samson, the past president of the American Society of Portrait Artists. Samson has won many art competitions and one of his oil paintings recently earned the top spot in the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.
According to the Portrait Society of America website, the organization is an educational and networking resource for professional and amateur artists hoping to increase their aesthetic and technical knowledge. The society sent out an e-mail to members advertising the opportunity to have works displayed in the Hillsdale College exhibit.
Samson and Professor of Art Sam Knecht then used their art experience to select entries for the exhibit. They acquired artists' portfolios and discussed what portraits would ultimately end up in the show.
"We had to pick between what were the really strong ones, and what were less strong," Samson said. "But we found that we were in general agreement of what pieces should be in the exhibit."
As the juror of the exhibit, Samson critiqued the artists' skill and technique. He discussed the style, color and shading of each piece and some possible improvements for future paintings.
"I was just stunned to see such good work here," Elahé Crockett, an artist with two paintings exhibited in the show, said.
Although she never studied art formally, Crockett has painted since she was a little girl. She still makes time for her art today even though she works as a medical research scientist.
Crockett prefers to paint people in familiar settings. For example, she said the portrait of her daughter curled around her cat, Midnight, on the floor of her house, embodies the burdens of teenage life. It also shows her daughter's typical after-school routine which she uses to unwind.
"That moment of relaxation," Crockett said. "I thought it was very interesting."
Bud Gale, another artist featured in the exhibit, enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and served a tour in the Pacific during World War II. Gale began his career at a commercial art school under the G.I. bill. Before becoming a freelance portrait painter, Gale worked as a commercial artist for Detroit Edison electrical utility company.
To concentrate on his art, Gale settled down and in Adrian, Mich. with his wife and six children. He still works out of his home, giving private lessons and promoting art exhibits in southern Michigan.
"My home is my gallery," Gale said. "My home is my studio. My home is my workshop."
Samson said the purpose of such exhibits are to measure your skill with other artists. "That, and it's always fun to see other's work," he said.
The reception featured critiques from Carl J. Samson, the past president of the American Society of Portrait Artists. Samson has won many art competitions and one of his oil paintings recently earned the top spot in the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.
According to the Portrait Society of America website, the organization is an educational and networking resource for professional and amateur artists hoping to increase their aesthetic and technical knowledge. The society sent out an e-mail to members advertising the opportunity to have works displayed in the Hillsdale College exhibit.
Samson and Professor of Art Sam Knecht then used their art experience to select entries for the exhibit. They acquired artists' portfolios and discussed what portraits would ultimately end up in the show.
"We had to pick between what were the really strong ones, and what were less strong," Samson said. "But we found that we were in general agreement of what pieces should be in the exhibit."
As the juror of the exhibit, Samson critiqued the artists' skill and technique. He discussed the style, color and shading of each piece and some possible improvements for future paintings.
"I was just stunned to see such good work here," Elahé Crockett, an artist with two paintings exhibited in the show, said.
Although she never studied art formally, Crockett has painted since she was a little girl. She still makes time for her art today even though she works as a medical research scientist.
Crockett prefers to paint people in familiar settings. For example, she said the portrait of her daughter curled around her cat, Midnight, on the floor of her house, embodies the burdens of teenage life. It also shows her daughter's typical after-school routine which she uses to unwind.
"That moment of relaxation," Crockett said. "I thought it was very interesting."
Bud Gale, another artist featured in the exhibit, enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and served a tour in the Pacific during World War II. Gale began his career at a commercial art school under the G.I. bill. Before becoming a freelance portrait painter, Gale worked as a commercial artist for Detroit Edison electrical utility company.
To concentrate on his art, Gale settled down and in Adrian, Mich. with his wife and six children. He still works out of his home, giving private lessons and promoting art exhibits in southern Michigan.
"My home is my gallery," Gale said. "My home is my studio. My home is my workshop."
Samson said the purpose of such exhibits are to measure your skill with other artists. "That, and it's always fun to see other's work," he said.
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