Weekend Fun: Artist Todd White Releases Deluxe Edition Book

The Art of Todd White (Book) Deluxe Edition

Friday marks the end of another work week and the beginning of weekend fun, and Todd White has a way of encompassing those elements of weekend freedom through his artwork with a whimsical, colourful look that is sure to turn heads.  Most commonly depicting social settings, his art features a wide variety of glamorous ladies, local music scenes, friends, billiards, and moments in time that usually go unnoticed by passersby.

Now you can learn more about the man behind the art, as well as his creative process, through his newest release: The Art of Todd White.  This book has over 200 fully illustrated pages in a large format.  There are only 850 limited edition copies available, and Picture This is proud to offer a special Deluxe Edition of the book, which features a hand painted cover.  There are only 25 of these rare books available, and you can take a peek at a few of the selections from the book in the pictures below:

Fun Fact:  Hands are a focal point in Todd White’s artwork.  ”Everyone’s hands are full of personality,”‘ says Todd, “They reflect the subject’s state of mind almost as much as facial expressions.”

About the Artist:

Artist Todd White

Born in 1969 in Texas, he came from humble roots. During his twenties he relocated to Hollywood and worked in the animation field, developing characters at some of the most renowned production studios in the country. He was even part of the lead team for the international hit cartoon series SpongeBob SquarePants.

He’s a compulsive observer of detail, always studying and absorbing figures, faces and features. Subconsciously, he spends his life people-watching – scribbling down sketches whatever the situation (often on napkins, even tablecloths) to record an idea for his next work.

He was chosen from hundreds of artists as the Official Artist of the GRAMMY® Awards in 2007, the world’s most prestigious music event. And in 2009, Todd was invited by Warner Bros. to contribute to a major design exhibition celebrating the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about art, artists and picture framing.

That’s Amore! A Slice of Italy Captured by Artist June Carey

Amalfi Coast by Artist June Carey

Artist June Carey purchased a home in Tuscany in 2006, and since then has been inspired to paint scenes from the local surroundings.  Through her art, she brings the breathtaking views of the Italian landscape to us, letting us bask in the warmth of a Mediterranean summer day without ever having to use our passports!

Did you know?

• The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the southern coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula in the Province of Salerno in Southern Italy.  The area is a popular tourist destination both for the region and Italy as a whole, attracting thousands of tourists each year.

• The Amalfi Coast was featured in “Positano“, a short story written by American author John Steinbeck in 1953.

• It was also the setting in “Finding Positano, A Love Story” written by author William James in 2010.

• The Amalfi Coast also serves as a setting for fictional tracks in the Forza Motorsport 3and Gran Turismo 4.

• The city of Positano is featured prominently in scenes of the film Under the Tuscan Sun.

“When I took this path, I felt like Alice in Wonderland going down the rabbit hole.  I would follow along this broken stone wall, where it winds down underneath the flying buttresses on the side of the church and down past gardens and vineyards towards the sea and village of Minori which is down there at sea level out of site in the cove.  With the thousands of years of cultivating the land, you can’t tell where a terrace ends and a foundation begins.” ~June Carey
Amalfi Coast is now available at Picture This!

About the Artist:

June Carey

June Carey has received numerous awards for her California landscapes and coastal scenes, including the Arts for the Parks Region II Award in 1997 and 1998.  Like many Californians, June started out on the East Coast. As a teenager, she came to California. In the 1980s Carey found herself painting desert scenes and became known for this, and participating in a lot of Western art shows and competitions.

“The little farmhouse in Pennsylvania where I grew up was always alive with singing, laughter and a love of the arts. My father, a voice instructor, introduced us to the steady flow of eccentric, larger-than-life characters found in his greatest passion – the dramatic world of the Italian opera.”

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about art, artists and picture framing.

Artist Guy Combes and the African Elephant

The Constant Gardener by Artist Guy Combes

While trekking through the woods and enjoying the natural Kenyan habitat, one would probably not expect to come face to face with the largest living land mammal.  The African elephant can grow to be 13 feet tall and weigh up to 26,000 pounds!  When you encounter one along your travels, you are sure to remember it.

And that’s exactly what artist Guy Combes did.  In fact, he was able to snap a few photos of the magnificent creature before he wisely gave the elephant his space to continue along his mid-day roam through the forest.

“In the thick high altitude forest of the Aberdare National Park in Kenya, a favourite of mine because it is so seldom visited by tourists, it is not uncommon to come round a corner and startle a bull elephant such as this one. My proximity was so immediate that I was almost able to see the thought processes in his eyes going from surprise to indignance, as he brought himself to full attention raising his head and looking down his trunk at me. I was able to snap a couple of shots before beating a very hasty retreat as imminence turned to rage and a charge was imminent.” – Guy Combes

This rare moment in time was captured and expressed through this recently released, highly detailed masterpiece.  The Limited Edition Masterwork Giclee, handsigned by Combes, is now available at Picture This.

About the Artist:

Artist Guy Combes

Artist Guy Combes’ star in international wildlife painting and conservation continues to rise. He is actively involved in several groups including the Soysambu Conservancy (protection of Africa’s Great Rift Valley ecosystem), the Action for Cheetahs in Kenya and efforts to prevent the Tanzanian government from building a road across the northern migration routes of the Serengeti National Park. Elephants are another of Guy Combes’ beloved causes. more

See more art and originals by Guy Combes

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing.

Artist Robert Bailey Connects with Tuskegee Airmen Movie: Red Tails

George Lucas’s latest movie, Red Tails, opens today Jan. 20.  Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., it focuses on a crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program who faced segregation and were kept mostly on the ground during World War II until called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.

Artist Robert Bailey  met with Lucas at Skywalker Ranch three years ago, and Lucas used some of these scenes in the eleven different print titles that Bailey produced, signed by the Tuskegee pilots and grounds crews.  Bailey has had the distinct honour of working directly with living Tuskegee Airmen in recreating their true historical experiences on canvas. Through years of collaboration, Robert now hosts the world’s largest selection of Tuskegee signed limited edition prints.

Red Tail Pass by Artist Robert Bailey

Red Tail Pass (shown above) is a limited edition print, and includes twelve original signatures of the Tuskegee airmen, in pencil.

Robert Bailey and his wife Michelle have attended many Tuskegee reunion conventions in order to obtain signatures for prints. This process involved renting a ballroom in the same hotel where the convention was being held, and then spending many hours on the phone going through lists of pilots who would be available on that particular day.

The Tuskegee Airmen graciously put aside their busy schedule at such events in order to wade through the hundreds of lithographs that were ready and stacked for their pencil autographs. Collectors highly prize not only the penciled autographs, but the fact that Tuskegee Airmen have actually handled each individual print.

Artist Robert Bailey

About the Artist:  Robert Bailey is an artist from Canada whose war art and aviation prints have been purchased and acclaimed around the world. He was born and raised in Staffordshire, England and attended Longton College of Art.  For years he was in television as a photographer and show host, then in newspapers as a designer, photographer and writer.  He has been drawing and painting since he was four years of age.  He says that he was “sidetracked” into television and newspaper careers before realizing his dream of becoming an aviation artist.  Now residing in Alberta, many of his WWII prints are hanging in numerous museums, legions and Armed Forces buildings worldwide, including the US Pentagon.

See more art and originals by Robert Bailey.

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing.

Artist Robert Bateman’s Great Horned Owl: Watcher of the Woods

Winter Mist-Great Horned Owl by Artist Robert Bateman

He begins his watch over the forest just as the sun disappears, the winter mist hovering around him as the nocturnal hours set in.  His prey scurry beneath him, unaware of his presence atop the tree branches.  He waits patiently.  Fear is not within him, nor is doubt.  He does not waver in his own confidence.  He will hunt tonight, and he will succeed.

Robert Bateman’s experiences with owls:

  “As a boy, I would direct my hikes to places where owls might be seen. To see any owl seems to me to be an honor, but the great horned is the most formidable of them all.
I would prowl through the darkest coniferous groves, which shelter and conceal owls in the daytime. I would spend my time, not looking up in trees, but on the ground for regurgitated pellets – usually mouse bones wrapped in a capsule of fur. If I found any, it would be worthwhile to scrutinize the tree above for an owl-shaped shadow.
With luck, I would focus my binoculars on the dark blob and find the awesome eyes looking at me. However, my best chance came with the help of crows. They are great owl locators. As I approached, the owl (finding the harassing crows and human presence just too much), would fly with hysterical crows in hot pursuit. Those few seconds, watching the owl’s big, silent wings disappearing through the trees, would make my day.”

Winter Mist-Great Horned Owl is now available as a Limited Edition Giclee, handsigned by Robert Bateman.  With each purchase, a copy of the 2012 Robert Bateman calender will also be included.

See more art and originals by Robert Bateman

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing

Artist Robert Bateman: Wolves in Winter

Deep Winter-Wolves by Artist Robert Bateman

Don’t make a sound, they haven’t seen you yet.

At first glance we notice the freshly covered evergreens and a peek-a-boo ray of sunshine on this crisp winter day, but lurking behind the beauty of the season are veteran predators.  No doubt searching for their next meal, this pack of wolves is on the hunt and Bateman has captured their smooth movements within this breath-taking piece.

We’re curious…how many wolves do you see?

This new Limited Edition piece by the “master of wildlife” artist Robert Bateman is now available, and purchasers will also receive a copy of the 2012 Robert Bateman Calender.

About the artist

Artist Robert Bateman

Robert Bateman has been a keen artist and naturalist from his early days. He has always painted wildlife and nature, beginning with a representational style, moving through impressionism and cubism to abstract expressionism. In his early 30′s he moved back to realism as a more suitable way to express the particularity of the planet. It is this style that has made him one of the foremost artists depicting the world of nature.

Bateman’s art reflects his commitment to ecology and preservation. Since the early 1960′s, he has been an active member of naturalist and conservation organizations, now on a global scale. He has become a spokesman for many environmental and preservation issues and has used his artwork and limited edition prints in fund-raising efforts that have provided millions of dollars for these worthy causes. more

See more art and originals by Robert Bateman

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing

Artist Charles Wysocki Creates Witty Cat Art for the Kitchen

Ethel the Gourmet by artist CharlesWysocki

What New Year’s Resolutions??  Ethel the Gourmet is a delightful piece for fans of food or felines…or both!  Ethel has a well-stocked pantry, filled with over forty of her favourite cookbooks and foods.  Who wouldn’t want to snuggle up with Bottled Slugs, Spacatti and Moth Balls or Puffed Mice?

Ethel has a famous brother that you may have heard of as well: Frederick the Literate. These siblings may have come from the same litter, but clearly parted company on their way to adulthood. Whereas Frederick likes to nap in the library surrounded by the comfort of big ideas, Ethel has been very busy in the kitchen, cooking up her latest gourmet feast…or perhaps a cat-astrophe, depending on your tastes!

“No matter what happens, Ethel is there. You bring the groceries home, she’s in the bag. You bring home clothes, she’s in the box. Whatever you bring home, she thinks it’s for her!” – Artist Charles Wysocki

Indeed, Wysocki has combined the perfect balance of sophistication and wit in this piece, which is sure to inspire plenty of conversations while you cook your own purrrfect feast.

Fun Fact:  The siblings are named after Fred and Ethel Mertz, the neighbours, friends and landlords of the Ricardo’s on the long-running television show I Love Lucy.

Artist Chares Wysocki

The art of Charles Wysocki (1928- 2002) is a celebration of the historical richness of the American past, taking its inspiration from the pastoral moods of the small towns of New England and rural Pennsylvania. As he said of his work, “I hope my paintings revive pleasant thoughts of order and security, much needed in this fast-paced world.” more

See more art by Charles Wysocki

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing

Arctic Solitude – Polar Bear Study by Artist Terry Isaac

Arctic Solitude-Study by artist Terry Isaac

For thousands of years, the polar bear has been a key figure in the material, spiritual, and cultural life of Arctic peoples. Most people are aware of the international concern for the future of the species, but here are some other facts you may not have known about polar bears:

1. In their first year of life, polar bear cubs are called “coys.” During the period after they leave their mothers but before mating, they are referred to as “subadults.”
2. Grolar bears are bears that are half polar bear, half grizzly bear.
3. The word “Arctic” came from the Greek word for “bear.”
4. Typically, females have only two cubs.  Sometimes they have more than two…but it’s not common and usually depends on the mother’s health.
5. Polar bears and Kodiak bears are the world’s largest terrestrial carnivores.

“Arctic Solitude – Study”  This original painting by artist Terry Isaac will be featured during The 2012 Isaac Art Show at Picture This Framing and Gallery in Sherwood Park, AB. map
The show opens this Thursday January 12th at 5 pm with Terry Isaac in attendance and runs until Saturday Jan 14th.
This show is an exclusive preview of latest works by artist Terry Isaac

See more art and originals by Terry Isaac

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing

Water to Wine by Artist Morgan Weistling

Water to Wine by Morgan Weistling

The miracle of turning water to wine, a symbol of new spiritual life, reminds us of changes that inevitably accompany a new year and new beginnings.  Miracles can be found each day in a child’s smile, a beautiful sunset or a sparkling fresh snowfall.  It is up to us to live our lives with open eyes and open hearts, seeing and believing in the everyday miracles that will always be bestowed upon us.

About the Art

“My main focus was to make the viewer feel like an eyewitness to the biblical account of Christ’s first miracle, changing water to wine at the wedding feast of Cana. To convey the sense of awe one would feel, I depicted the astonished face of the servant as he pours the water and watches as it is transformed into wine.” – Morgan Weistling

About the Artist

Artist Morgan Weistling

Morgan Weistling brings a scene to life with spectacular lighting, creating a sense of wonder and engaging the viewer’s imagination and emotion. His dreamlike images touch the viewer’s heart, using more than sentimentality to engage the viewer. His canvases are filled with brushwork that tells a story beyond the subject matter. more

See more art by Morgan Weistling

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing

Where The Healing Begins by artist Steve Hanks

Where The Healing Begins by artist Steve Hanks

Where the Healing Begins is a real-life depiction of a mother who is overcoming grief and suffering after losing a child.  Artist Steve Hanks asked his friend how she began the healing process and she told him that she would sit out on the porch and look into the ocean, which is where her son had liked to be.  He painted her sitting in the sun and put flowers around her as a symbol of re-growth, a reminder to start simple and let life grow again.  Hanks has put together a series of watercolour art in a book entitled “Moving On”, which he says will help to “teach us where to look when things go bad…to focus on life being good.”

Artist Steve Hanks

Steve Hanks is recognized as one of the best watercolour artists working today. The detail, color and realism of Steve Hanks’ paintings are unheard of in this difficult medium. A softly worn patterned quilt, the play of light on the thin veil of surf on sand, or the delicate expression of a child—Steve Hanks captures these patterns of life better than anyone.

Hanks calls his style ‘emotional realism’. He often leaves the faces of his figures obscured or turned away, not only to leave the face to the imagination of the viewer but also to allow the entire figure to express the emotion. more

See more art by Steve Hanks

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about  art , artists and  picture framing