Inteview with the Artist - John Barhydt

What is your “day job” if you have one?

I’ve spent the past 30 years in the Information Systems field, in roles ranging from computer programmer to management positions. Over the past couple of years I’ve developed a niche in the cost structure of large organizations. That’s my weekday job. Recently a couple of us decided that it would be fun to rehab an old winery in St. James, Missouri – so now I have a “weekend” job.

What draws you to the medium you use, and who are your greatest artistic influences?
The world is full of beauty and surprises. I enjoy seeing the details of the world around me, and then attempting to capture the grandeur in my camera. This trait probably goes back to my childhood when we would visit my Grandfather’s house and he would always have a tray of slides ready to show us. He would narrate a story about the places he had been and the people he had met. Capturing moments and places on film, and then telling stories using photography has always seemed normal to me. Over the years I’ve had several friends with a shared interest in photography from whom I’ve learned a lot. In terms of influence from the big names - Ansel Adams comes to mind as influencing my artistic outlook, not only for his spectacular landscape pictures, but for his ability to master the craft of the entire process from negative to print. His encouragement to master the technical aspects of the darkroom as part of the art process is inspiring to me.

What music do you listen to while creating?
Mostly I don’t listen to music while I’m shooting since most of my shooting takes place outdoors. When I’m creating the print in my office/studio, I’ll listen to a rather wide variety of music - how about a mix of Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Miles Davis, and Mozart?

Where is your studio and what is it like?
My office is in my home, and is equipped with a Mac G5, a Canon IPF5000 printer, EIZO monitor for color calibration, and various books, supplies and camera gear. OK..truth is that my studio is small and cluttered. Next question please.

What hobbies do you have?
I’ve been racing a vintage BMW for about 10 years, and have learned a bit about how to build, fix, and maintain racecars. Here is a bit of trivia: Gateway Gallery artist Ron Flier was my first high-speed driving school instructor. My wife and I enjoy traveling cross-country, either on a motorcycle or in a convertible. I’ve developed beer and wine making from a kit-based hobby to full-grain home brew and winery ownership, both of which are challenging but can have tasty outcomes. I enjoy building and construction, provided I have an expert on the job to keep me from messing up too badly. I also dabble in woodworking.

Why is art important?
Art reminds us that life isn’t as awful as some in the media would have us believe it is.


What is the best museum/ art gallery/ art exhibit you have ever been to?
The best one is probably the last one I visited – I enjoy nearly every museum/gallery I visit. The Smithsonian is a wonderful place to connect with the past. Similar, with a German flare, is the Deutsches Museum in Munich. San Francisco, New York, and Munich all sport excellent modern art museums, and I’ve never had a bad day at the St. Louis Art Museum. For the photographer, the Photo Antiquities Museum of Photographic History in Pittsburgh is a must-see.

Do you have pets? Tell about them.

My wife and I currently have three cats at home, and have been adopted by two barn cats at the winery. Two of our house cats are mutts from the shelter. The smallest one is a basket of energy that loves my art. No - actually he loves my printer. Whenever I start printing, he will run into the room, jump up on the printer and share in the print-creation process. The second cat squarely fits the definition of a lap cat that thinks he is part dog, always running to greet us when we come home from work. The third cat is the closest to an “official breed” bred cat that we have. We adopted him after a tragedy in his former people’s family. He reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously because he is obviously “cooler” than we can ever hope to be.

Meeting of Minds 15 - Finishing Touches

Heather Haymart added the final touches to the Meeting of Minds piece. It is all varnished, wired and ready to hang. Come down to the Gateway Gallery tonight to see it in person. The pictures never do it justice. We will be selling this piece and 100% of the proceeds will be going to a local charity helping out in Haiti.

Interview With The Artist - Heather Haymart

How long have you been an artist?

As many artists might say, I have been an artist all of my life. I can remember making drawings in first grade that impressed people and that impressed me! I couldn't get enough of the accolades. This eventually lead me to being an art student at Mizzou. I received two degrees, one in Art Education and one in Fine Art. That enabled me to teach art to high school students where I got my best education. I truly believe that there is no better way to train yourself as an artist than helping others solve artistic problems. After that invaluable education, I did murals and then finally I jumped into painting abstracts for a living and never looked back.

What is your “day job” if you have one?

These days I feel like I have many "day jobs", and "night jobs" and "weekend jobs", but all of them are keeping me in the business of what I love so I consider myself lucky. In addition to being a mom to my two awesome kids (8 and 10) I get to be partners with the Gateway Gallery artists, I co-run Wood Icing at the Chesterfield Mall where we teach classes and private lessons, have a studio and sell our work, I work one day a week at Art Trends Gallery in Chesterfield, I teach two painting and drawing classes at Chesterfield Arts to 3-8 grade students, I do art fairs during the season and I try to exhibit locally and regionally from time to time. Oh yeah, and I make paintings! That is the BEST part.

Why do you make art?

My paintings are my visual journals. I get to express myself without words and it sometimes seems like magic. It's like my very own super power. My paintings help me work through my thoughts, they serve as reminders and affirmations about my future and they help me communicate with strangers and friends on a more intimate level than would ever be possible otherwise.

What draws you to the medium you use?

I use Wood Icing as my modeling paste and acrylic paint on wood. I am drawn to it because it is so unique and when I first started using it, this idea of using texture so heavily was very new (at least to me). It gives me the chance to work in many layers and create these color combinations and depth with texture and color that surprises me every time. I say it is like playing in the mud and then I get to make it pretty.

Do you have any vices for being creative?
I suppose I do. I really like to drink coffee while I paint. I love that moment when I step back to take a sip and meditate on the next thing to do in my painting. I like to listen to music and I dance and sing. I love my solitude although sometimes I get lonely. This is something I am trying to work through right now.  I have most of my studio at Wood Icing and I am having a hard time adjusting to working in this new environment. I love it and I am challenged. I think if I had two sets of paints and tools, I would do my small stuff at Wood Icing and I would do my large paintings on my big easel at home. It will be interesting to see where this takes my work. My paintings might undergo another transformation.

Where do you get your creative talent?
My family is full of creative women. My great grandmother made these amazing embroidered wall hangings and I am lucky enough to have one. My Grandmother is a prolific creative although she would never admit it. She quilts, sews, knits, does crochet, she used to teach ceramics, she does lovely watercolors and never stops creating something. I remember my mom, Rose Wilde, painting a still life of walnuts in our kitchen at an easel even though she would never consider herself an artist. She created and sells Wood Icing and can create any faux finish she dreams up. My cousin, Amie King, makes amazing jewelry and a million other creative things. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. You should hear us when we all get into one room!

Please come visit Heather and the other Gateway artists this Friday the 26th from 6-9. She has 12 pieces in the window and will be showing off her most recent painting. Not to mention the unveiling of the Meeting of Minds project! We will have light appetizers and wine and a great time as always.

You can find Heather online at:

http://www.heatherhaymart.com/

http://www.heatherhaymart.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/heatherhaymart

http://twitter.com/heatherhaymart

Meeting of Minds 14 - Vic Barr

Vic added his bridge this past weekend. It is a beautiful addition to the piece.

Only a few more things left to do before we present it this Friday!

Meeting of Minds 13 - Paul Jackson

Paul came in for our monthly meeting and took the opportunity to add a few lovely little birds to the project. Can you find them?

Greg shot a few pictures of Paul as he worked with what materials he had available to him. Not bad for some latex paint and a sponge brush!

Meeting of Minds 12 - Michael Anderson

Michael has added a lovely postcard size painting to the composition. Since I haven't seen it in person, I don't know if he actually painted onto the surface or if he attached a small painting onto the surface. I also feel like Mike might have added a few splashes of color throughout the painting. If you are curious too, you will just have to come see the piece for yourself on February 26, 2010. That is when we will officially unveil this work of art at the Gateway Gallery reception.

Meeting of Minds 11 - Annie Smith Piffel and Janice Schoultz Mudd

Janice and Annie have really put their creative talents together here.
They have anchored all of the smaller elements especially Greg's Photograph by surrounding them with color and connected the top and bottom of the painting. It is beginning to feel like a planned out piece by the looks of it, but if you have been following this blog, you know this changes each day with each new addition.

Meeting of Minds 7 - Janet Fons

While Janet was working at the gallery she made some great progress by adding her creative element to the piece. In the beginning, she mentioned struggling with the technical aspects of not working in her normal routine, but then she decided to think outside of her own box and apply some tissue paper and seal it in the hopes that another fellow artist will add some color. Janet says, "I wanted to connect at least two of the elements on the panel because the pieces were looking very separate and I liked thinking about the initial part as a cityscape and the circle as the moon overhead so I added some "sky" between the two, working with the existing colors. Always looking for a landscape I guess... "

If you would like to learn more about Janet and her process, please visit her blog.

Approximately ten more Gateway Artists will be adding their expertise to this group project by the time this project is considered finished. As they work they have also been documenting their progress on Facebook on the Gateway Gallery Fan Page.

Meeting of Minds 8 - Janice Schoultz Mudd

Janice has added her beautiful and unique "Janiceness" to this piece now and it is really beginning to fill in. It is amazing what incorporating an area of color can do to bring a work of art together.

Meeting of Minds 9 - Dawn Gano

Dawn came in on the weekend and added some her lovely flowers. They seem to be floating in the breeze that we didn't even know was there until she added them. So creative!

Meeting of Minds 10 - Vic Mastis

There is no mistaking when Vic adds her "Touch of Gold" to a work of art that you know it is her creation. Can you see how whe has broken up some elements and unified the space all at the same time? What a fantastic way to pull everyone together!

Meeting of the Minds 6 - Greg Matchick

Greg has applied one of his photographs to the upper right corner of the Meeting of Minds piece. He has also provided us with a close-up so we can see more detail. He mentioned the idea of using one of his more abstract photos because he thought that would lend itself more easily to the collaboration.

You should check out the coments on our Gateway Gallery Fan Page. It is so fun to see what the artists are saying!

Meeting of Minds 5 - Vic Barr

Vic has created a beautiful wooden bridge to add to the collaboration. He plans to decide where to attach it once it becomes apparent where it belongs. This concept of using a bridge in this group project is so creative and appropriate to the piece.

Meeting of Minds 4 - Catherine Honse and John Barhydt

Cate has adorned the art piece with one of her hand made ceramic leaves.

John has incorporated a few of his fine art photographs collaged onto the piece.

These newest additions to this work of art are a prime example of two artists working outside of their comfort zone in an effort to contribute to our group project. This is what makes the Gateway artists so special. We understand the value in trying new things and working together.

Meeting of Minds 3 - Garry McMichael

Garry has shared a photo of his contribution to the collaboration. Can you find it?

This piece is really taking shape as each artist brings their own personality and talent to the table. The most fascinating part is how each addition to the piece seems to be right at home as soon as it is added.

Meeting of Minds 2 - D. A. Williams and Michele Wells

More progress is being made on the collaboration. This photo reflects the result of Debbie and Michele working together. They applied some tissue paper collage and plan to add some pastel later. Keep checking in as the Gateway artists pull this piece together!

Meeting of Minds 1 - Heather Haymart and Meg Matson

The Gateway Gallery artists will be presenting a collaborative piece of art for the next reception on February 26, 2010. We are all contributing some element of our talent to a mixed media work of art to celebrate our creative cooperation as artists in running our successful business together. Each artist in this group offers his/her own unique personality which culminates into this creative support system and professional partnership. Heather Haymart, who is the Spotlight Artist starting February 26, decided this was the perfect way to express such camaraderie.

This is a photo of the 48"x24" piece that Meg and Heather have begun to work on.

It should be so fun to watch as this work of art unfolds!

Interview with the Artist - Vic Barr

What kind of art do you make?

I guess my work falls into about four categories. I design and work with the North American and exotic hardwoods of the world. I create contemporary jewelry chests and towers; I hand-turn a lot of writing instruments, pens and pencils, in those hardwoods and other materials, as well as other vessels; and recently I've begun to do some contemporary table-top sculptural pieces. The fourth category is custom designs and pieces to meet the needs of individual clients. I really enjoy the custom work because my clients give me the latitude to let my imagination enhance their basic requirements and, in return, I give them more than they asked for and a truly unique piece.




What draws you to the medium you use?

Through the years I painted in oils, acrylics and watercolor, sculpted my kids’ heads in clay, and did a lot of drawing in various media. When I started to explore a new medium, I studied it and built as many of my own tools as I was able. Eventually I realized that, while I was competent in the media, I really enjoyed designing and building the easels, pedestals, and other equipment in preparation for working in the latest medium. Then I discovered the exotic woods of the world, and there was no turning back. Besides the opportunity to work in woods whose names I couldn’t even pronounce, I began to realize that it seems to be a mission in life to show others the natural beauty that’s really under the bark of a tree. I never tire of it, and at latest count I’ve worked with eighty-seven different hardwoods from nearly every continent (there aren’t many trees in Antarctica).

Where do you get your inspiration?

As with most other artists and craftsmen I know, that varies. Sometimes inspiration is sparked by something a client wants, sometimes an unusual piece of wood will dictate the best way to exhibit its best features, sometimes a shape or curve or element in a museum piece suggests a new context , sometimes a doodle from a boring meeting matures into a new piece, sometimes …. Inspiration comes from whatever we’re ready to see.

What hobbies do you have?

I read a lot and I’m actively involved in the leadership of several nonprofit art organizations; Missouri Artisans Association, Greater St. Louis Art Association, and the St. Louis Woodworkers’ Guild. I also belong to the St. Louis Artists Guild and the National Association of Independent Artists.

What is the best museum/ art gallery/ art exhibit you have ever been to?

We’re blessed in the St. Louis area with a wonderful art museum, which has hosted many wonderful exhibits through the years. I’d be hard pressed to select one above all the others, but the one I attended last year that featured the work of American abstract artists from the mid 20th century really impressed me. I’m not the world’s greatest fan of abstract art, but this collection of legendary works allowed me to see the genre with new appreciation.
Another of the exhibits that had a profound effect on me was a number of years ago that featured a number of well-known impressionist painters.

Do you have pets? Tell about them.

Two border collies, Molly and MacDuff, allow my wife and me to live with them. Though from different litters, MacDuff has taken the role of tolerant big brother to the exuberant younger Molly. They’re endlessly entertaining, loving members of our family, and much easier to raise than our two children were.

If you could own any work of art in the world, what would it be and why?

That’s a tough one, but one work consistently rises above all others for me. Michelangelo’s Pieta has enchanted me since, as a teenager, I first saw pictures of the work. The incredible detail, the life, the feeling, that he brought out of that marble block stands as the ultimate tribute to the life and work of this master of every medium he chose.

How often do you create?

I’m in my shop nearly every day, and ideas for new pieces, work in progress and work that may evolve from something I’ve already done occupy at least a part of my mind on some level most of the time. Often, when I step into the shop I’ve already completed a mental image of a new creation down to the smallest detail. The thinking part of what I do is often the most exciting element in the work.

Interview with Artist: Janet Fons

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am inspired by the impressionists and the expressionists. I appreciate their attempts to create an emotion, a spontaneity of style, freezing one moment in time. I like that their approach, materials, and methods were personal and not tied in any way to another artist's dictate. Another painter who has always inspired me is Georgia O'Keeffe. Her individuality as a woman and an artist has always stood out to me. I also admire the work of contemporary artists Bill Creevy for his textured and layered paintings and Susan Ogilvie for her amazing use of color.

What draws you to the medium you use?

I am drawn to oil pastel because the pigments are pure and brilliant. It's a very tactile medium that you hold and apply right onto your surface. I like that it is permanent but non-toxic. There is no dust or fumes and it can really be applied to almost any surface. I've been exploring the use of alkyds as a medium with oil pastel. It liquefies the pastel so I can use washes and glaze layers of color. It also sets the pigment so I can apply a color over another without changing the underlying layer.

I've explored using oil pastel on different surfaces for several years. I wanted change the traditional presentation of matted and framed pieces under glass and the barrier it creates between the art and the viewer . I discovered that Oil pastel can be sealed and the color will not be affected. Some of my early experiments involved painting on paper (Fabriano Murilla) and then gluing the piece to panel and sealing, but the gluing part can be quite nerve-racking because you only have one chance to get it right. So I began preparing my own hardboard panels with a mix of pumice, gesso and soft gel, tinting it after the surface is dry. My panels are cradled and I carry the image around the edges like gallery-wrapped canvas.Most recently, I've been painting larger work on canvas. I like how much lighter-weight canvas is than panel.

Where is your studio and what is it like?
My studio (number 20) is in the Foundry Art Centre in Saint Charles. There are twenty studios located on the second floor of the Foundry. The public is invited to visit and interact with the artists in our studios. I have a single studio which is almost 20 ft by 20 ft with lots of room and light. My windows face west. All the studios have glass half walls facing the walkway that runs around the open atrium overlooking the great hall.

Are you formally trained and if so where?
I have a Bachelor of Fine Art from Michigan State University. My major was printmaking. As a student, my favorite printmaking methods were stone lithography, metal plate intaglio and serigraphy. Printmaking was a rigorous discipline; our finals were a series of five prints (minimum), all hand pulled and they had to be identical. Each method (or class) required at least three editions, so if you were taking a litho, etching and serigraphy class you had nine editions to finish by the end of term. Talk about burning the midnight oil!

You can find out more about Janet on her web site at JanetFons.com or on the Gateway Gallery web site at gatewaygalleryonline.com.

Please come visit Janet and the Gateway Gallery artists at the Gateway Gallery this Friday November 20 from 6-9PM.

Many of the Gateway Artists will be presenting works in the theme of Paris and Other Delights and we will be enjoying some lovely hors d'oeuvres compliments of Mazara's.

Interview with the Artist: Janice Schoultz Mudd

What kind of art do you make?

I am a mixed media painting and collage artist working with contemporary abstractions of the landscape as well as visual interpretations of conceptual ideas. I started painting while studying interior design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. The program was rigorous and weighted on developing the skill of realistic accuracy in painting and drawing before moving on to tackle abstraction. This approach gave me the sound foundation that allows me to stretch my imagery with confidence.

Although I have not abandoned the idea of painting with figurative accuracy, I confess I find it much more interesting to interpret and develop a concept into a visual form. Each piece is pretty much of an experiment. I do this working with layer upon layer of color until the canvas glows and sorting through my boxes of collected stuff, trying to find just the right pieces to incorporate onto the canvas.

What draws you to the medium you use?

This is such a great time to be an artist because there are so many art materials and mediums available. Thank goodness we don’t have to grind our own pigments and make our own paint anymore. There are so many different materials available and being inherently curious and creative, I really love finding out what is going to happen if I ……



Why do you make art?

The truth to this question, is that I really can’t help it. Making and creating things is the way my brain works. When I was a kid, growing up in New Jersey, I made up board games, books with collaged illustrations, and paid a great deal of attention to critically examining things I saw (the changing color of pond water throughout the day, the colors of our neighbors’ furniture, shoe shapes etc.). I know,.. weird. I worked as a designer for many years and when my kids were growing up and art supplies were out of the question, I designed cut cookie forms and did great icing decoration! I have noticed that this creative force always comes out somehow.

How long have you been with Gateway Gallery?

I have been one of the resident artists with Gateway Gallery for about a year. We currently have 17 juried members. The benefits of being part of this organization are tremendous. Since we are artist owned, we have no choice but to learn about all the aspects of running a gallery. Not only are each of us learning how to manage and address the business of being an artist, but this experience makes me a better represented artist in other galleries who carry my work. I now have very good understanding of a gallery’s needs and of how I can work with them so that everyone benefits.


What is the most rewarding part of being an artist?

I will be the first one to tell you that I have so much fun creating art. Much of the time it gives me an incredible sense of freedom and release, something like a bird gliding through the sky on a beautiful, sunny, warm day. When things are going badly however, it can get pretty stressful. Since I work at home, I will at that point, do the laundry, take a nap, read or walk the dog. Many things help; listening to music is one. Depending on my mood it could be Pavarotti, Ralph Stanley or The Lion King.

The most rewarding part of this whole business however, is when my work makes a connection with someone and touches their heart.

What are you working on now?

This past year I have created a number of small pieces – 12 x 12 inches– in response to the economy, so that I might be able to offer a greater price range for my work. This size has allowed me to experiment with new ideas and directions that I likely would not have thought of. A common response to these paintings has been “these need to get large”. And so… I have ordered large canvases. When you click on my my website page you will see.

Never one to stay only on one track however, how does the intersection of art and molecular biology sound?

*Please consider coming to the Gateway Gallery this Friday, October 9th from 6-9pm to see Janice's new work and have the unique opportunity to speak with her about her latest creative endeavors.

*The Gateway Artists will also be presenting new work in the theme of the reception called Autumn Lights.

Create St. Louis

What do the St. Louis Art Fair and the Gateway Gallery have in common?

Besides great art? Well then it would have to be Forsyth in Clayton!

The Gateway Gallery sits on Forsyth between Meramec and Central Avenue. This just happens to be smack dab in the middle of the St. Louis Art Fair! So, if you are at the fair this weekend, we will be too! Please come by and see the Gateway Gallery artists' new work. We have been working hard to make some beautiful new art for you to enjoy. A couple of our artists will be painting live on the sidewalk, and we have air conditioning!

This Friday, September 11, from 6:00-9:00 pm we will be hosting another one of our popular receptions complete with wine and and as a special bonus, Mazara's will be providing us with some of their delicious hors d'oeuvres. We would love to introduce you to our featured artists; Nancy Friederich, Jo Rezny McCredie, Marlene Lewis & Henryk Ptasiewicz, and Matt Donovan.

Homage to the Masters

Tonight the Gateway artists are presenting their Homage paintings at our reception from 6-9PM. The Homages are works of art that pay homage to some of the masters on display at the St. Louis Art Musuem. Maybe you will recognize some of the pieces of art we are paying tribute to.


Michael Anderson's' homage to Bingham.




Janet Fons' homage to O'Keeffe.



Vic Matis' homage to Bathasar van der Alst.

This is a great opportunity for the artists to stretch their creative muscles and even learn something new. It also gives us a chance to celebrate and even commemorate our respect for the masters. Please come see how creative the Gateway Artists can be tonight at the Gateway Gallery from 6-9PM.

Interview with Artist: Garry McMichael

How long have you been an artist? Since the day I could scribble with a pencil or a crayon. I have photos of myself with a Kodak Brownie hanging around my neck when I was six. I took my camera everywhere. When I was in high school I illustrated a student literary book, VIGNETTES, with my drawings. I really liked being a student school photographer. It gave me the opportunity to get out of class to take photos of other students and activities for the yearbook. I discovered a camera in my hands was like wearing a protective coat of armor. Photography helped me to overcome my shyness, approach other students, especially girls, and develop relationship skills that many students don’t learn until later in life.

Photography also helped me to develop a life-long love for the outdoors, nature and the Missouri/Arkansas Ozarks in particular. Today the Ozark landscape is an integral part of my pastel art. Our clear running streams and green-forested hills are a treasure to behold.

What is your “day job” if you have one? I have been an editorial and commercial photographer all of my life. I have worked as a freelancer for numerous national publications such as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, TIME, NEWSWEEK, FORBES, BICYCLING, and dozens of others. Today most of my work is for commercial clients creating annual report photography, brochures and catalogs. Computers and digital photography has flipped the commercial photography market on its head. Instead of just doing photography I find myself taking a commercial project from concept through the graphic design stage, directly to the printer and delivering the completed project to the client. I also find myself developing websites and e-mail marketing for clients. Today commercial photographers need to have full range of computer skills, need to know how to do graphic design, create a website and work with printers.

What kind of art do you make? I create fine art photography, charcoals and pastels. I find my fine art today is really a counter balance to my high tech day work, and pastels have become my medium of choice. Drawing and scumbling a rich pigment of color across a paper is such an opposite (and relief) from working on a computer as an editorial and commercial photographer my vision has always been grounded in reality. Pastels allow me release a lot of pent up emotions and work more from my imagination reality. My pastels have become much more impressionistic.

How long have you been involved with The Gateway Gallery? I joined Gateway Gallery about a year and half ago. It is everything a gallery should be. We offer original, high-quality, regional art at a fair price. There are no middlemen between the artist and collector making our art a great value for our patrons. Art patrons that visit gateway gallery have the opportunity to develop relationships with the artists thus giving our art even more value on a personal level.

There is a unique benefit to being part of an artist owned gallery. There is a special relationship developed with my sixteen co-owner artists. We are constantly sharing ideas, critiquing each other and pushing ourselves to improve our art. Gateway Gallery is a great incubator for new ideas and techniques. I am totality impressed with the originality of all of our artists. Everyone brings his or her unique vision to the gallery.

What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Why my next one, of course. I don’t live in the past. I want to keep learning, experimenting, playing and pushing my art and myself.

Where do you get your inspiration? When I was young my artistic inspiration came from nature and living in the heart of the Ozarks. But now, much of my inspiration comes from my family, friends and fellow artists. I’m coming to realize there is as much beauty in my back yard as there is in a thousand acres of hill-covered forests.

Why do you make art? I often tell friends I make art because it’s cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist every week. There is lot of truth in that statement. All day I work for my commercial clients and I feel my stress level rise as the day progresses. Every evening I go into my studio, turn the music up and start painting. The next thing I know, three, four or more hours have disappeared and my stress level has returned to near zero.

Who are your greatest artistic influences? When I was a young photographer I was greatly influenced by the nature photography of Eliot Porter. I would spend hours studying his work in a series of Sierra Club books like In Wilderness is The Preservation of the World and Summer Island. Today, the Hudson River School artists still heavily influence me. I would dearly love to have experienced the forested Ozarks back in the early to mid-1800’s like the Hudson School Painters experienced New England and upper New York. The works of George Inness and Asher B. Durand especially impress me. When it comes to capturing the color of the American West few artists surpass Thomas Moran. I’ll never forget the first time I saw one of his original western sunsets at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. I was stunned by its beauty. I couldn’t make myself leave the gallery; I stared at it for hours. Among contemporary painters I’m particularly influenced by the highly original pastel techniques of Bill Creevy and I greatly admire the originality of Richard McKinley. The way he allows the under painting to influence the mood of his landscapes is very effective.

Garry has a strong web presence. If you would like find out more about him please visit the following web sites:

http://www.garrymcmichael.com/

http://www.imaginagrapher.com/

http://www.gatewaypastelartists.com/

http://www.gslaa.org/

http://www.myslart.com/