A few facts about the Cow Art and More artists

I work with an amazing and diverse group of artists. Here's a few factoids that maybe you didn't know them:

• We have two artists from outside the United States: watercolor artist Donna Greenstein (from Canada) and digital artist Michael Murray (from Glasgow, UK)
• Pencil drawing artist Laurie Winkelman will be the judge of the junior Brown Swiss show at this year's Pennsylvania All American Dairy Show. Laurie is also a Ph.D. dairy cattle nutritionist.
• Three of our artists also have their own graphic design firms: photographer Kent Weakley, painter Robert Saueressig and mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson
• Airbrush painter Jerry Gadamus is considered to be one of the two foremost airbrush painters in the world.
• When pencil drawing artist Amanda Raithel isn't working on her next piece of art, she is working cattle on an Angus ranch in Nebraska with her husband and daughter.
• I am not the only veterinarian with art on Cow Art and More. Painters Jon Plishka and Lynn Bishop also have doctor of veterinary medicine degrees.
• Pastel artist Carolyn Molder's recent work, 'Holstein and Fence', now hangs in the office of the Virginia State Veterinarian.
• Oil painter Deborah Grayson Lincoln belongs to the 'daily painters' group, where each artist member commits to finishing one oil painting every day.
• Mixed media artist Jon Ellis has had his art included on the covers of Time and National Geographic.
• Pencil and pastel artist Gary Sauder grew up showing cattle and received numerous showmanship awards.
• Stained glass artists Mike and Mary Ellen McIntyre had one of their stained glass pieces selected as the art for the official poster for the Gainesville Florida Downtown Festival and Art show for 2011. (picture at right)
  
• Painters Wendy Marquis and Shannon Grissom each have a twin. Wendy has a twin brother and Shannon has a twin sister.
• Painter Valerie D'Ortona is active on educating people on the importance of becoming organ donors.
• Watercolor artist Jo Lynch is busy creating animals paintings for the new neonatal wing at Tampa (Florida) General Hospital.

Of course I work with several more artists, but this was all I could remember off the top of my head. Wow! Many thanks to all the artists who are part of the Cow Art and More gallery. If you want to learn more about the artists (or even see what they look like), check out the Cow Art and More artists page.

Interview with Kevin Webster - Other interests

What else do you do besides your art?

I work full time as a police dispatcher and I love to travel.

Picture credit: "The Look", oil on masonite panel

Click here to learn more about this beef cattle painting

Q & A with Donna Greenstein Part 6

How do you decide what to paint?

I take my camera everywhere, leaving it in the car. Our farm is ten minutes away from the local towns. If the lighting is good and I pass animal herds I stop to photograph them. If a photo grabs my fancy and inspires me, I will paint it.

Picture credit: Some of the animals that live on Donna's farm in Ontario.

A conversation with Shannon Grissom: Part 12

What else do you do besides your art?

For work? Lots!

I produce and host an instructional television series called "Give Your Walls Some Soul". (Think Bob Ross meets Emeril) It's in about 10 million cable households across the country.

I'm also in pre-production for a new television show where I find people who don't realize they are creative and teach them to go for it!

I write and sing my own music. I'm working on a CD and expect to complete it this year.

I'm working on a new novel, inspired by my own paintings.

And a few years back I wrote a picture book, Monkey Made of Sockies. The main character has now been licensed in to a line of golf club headcovers that are sold globally. We are giving a percentage of the profits to help kids with Prader-Willi Syndrome.


For play?

I love to go for walks/hikes in nature. I love to read just for pleasure.

Picture credit: "Happy Cows ver. 4"

Click here to see this image on greeting cards or a ceramic mug

A conversation with Shannon Grissom: Part 11

What advice to you have for aspiring painters?

I think it was Julia Cameron who said it best.."Dreams don't die, people do." It's so important to make time to go for it. Don't let life get in they way. My creative time is sacred.

Picture credit: "Happy Cows ver. 1"

Click here to see this image on a ceramic mug, greeting cards, or porcelain ornament

Shannon Grissom featured artist for February

This month's featured artist is oil painter, Shannon Grissom. Shannon is an accomplished painter, children's book author and musician. She believes in painting in a large format with bright colors to accomplish the mission of "Give your walls some soul!" Enjoy a series of questions and answers all month on the Cow Art and More blog as an opportunity to get to know Shannon and her work more in depth.

Shannon's work will be featured all month in the Cow Art and More specials section. Her work has free shipping for the entire month of February.

A conversation with Robin Maria Pedrero: Part 3

What is your technique?

I work in several mediums and the techniques vary for each. At times when I am immersed in the creative process I cover the studio with 7 – 20 pieces in progress strewn on tables, easels, the wall and floor. In pastel, I start at the farthest point in the distance and build layers towards what is closer and more detailed. In acrylics and mixed media I capture life and simple pleasures applying rhythmic patterns and geometrics in translucent layers. In all mediums, I personify nature through color and movement evoking moods of transition, strength, joy and serenity. I use a symbolic visual language exploring the visible and invisible creating a commentary on relationships and thoughts. As I work the images can be unexpected flowing from gathered memories. Within the placed pigment I enhance my perceptions of faces, animals, cities or fauna to share them with viewers. Then I let the work be and come back to it with fresh eyes and work some more until finished. Repeat

Picture credit: "Blue", pastel on paper

Click here to learn more about this beef cow art drawing

A conversation with Laurie Winkelman: Part 10

What advice to you have for aspiring artists?

I think that I still qualify as an aspiring artist! When I was learning about the process of becoming a ‘published’ artist and having prints made of my drawing for the first time, I really didn’t know where to start. So, I called up a very respected and highly successful agricultural artist studio, Bonnie Mohr’s business in Glencoe, MN, looking for a little help.

While I didn’t talk to Bonnie herself, her employees working there were very supportive and helpful. They suggested a printing company, Hunter Editions in Maine, and I wasted no time in touching base with them to get the process rolling. Since most of my art career has been independent and self-directed, it was really great to get some direction and help from the people at Bonnie Mohr’s studio. So, I guess my suggestion for aspiring artists would be to not be afraid to ask for help or advice.

New art from Julia Swartz

Oil and watercolor painter Julia Swartz has had a busy time in the studio this summer! She has created two new paintings for Cow Art and More. Both are available as canvas giclees in several sizes or as the originals. Go to the Cow Art and More new products page for more information.

Picture credit: "Moo Cow", oil on canvas

Go to Cow Art and More to read more about this cow oil painting