Charles Conder

•Artist: Charles Conder

•Title: Bronte Beach

•Media:Oil Painting on CardBoard

•Dimensions: 330cm x 226cm

•Date: 1888

Charles Edward Conder (24 October 1868– 9 February 1909) was an English-born painter, lithographer and designer. He emigrated to Australia and was a key figure in the Heidelberg School, arguably the beginning of a distinctively Australian tradition in Western art. 

 ( http://www.fampeople.com/cat-charles-conder)

• Statement:" Charles Conder was one of a celebrated group of artists who painted landscapes outdoors around Sydney and Melbourne during the 1880s. Together with Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton he was a major instigator of the groundbreaking 9 by 5 impressions exhibition in Melbourne in 1889. Of this group, Conder was the only one to go on to become a legendary figure in the turn of the century art world of Paris and London."

( http://artsearch.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=89097)

•Background Information on the art:  In the 1880s, seaside leisure became a crucial part of Australian imagery. Conder visited Bronte Beach in Sydney on the Queen’s Birthday holiday on 24 May 1888. He made two paintings outdoors on that day, both of which are distinctive for their watercolor-style application of oil paint. (//www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/bronte-beach/SQH0FxpG9WnXBw)

•Theme Connection:A sunny day at the beach is nothing short of heavenly. With it's rolling waves and golden rays of sun, the beach is another great way to spend time in " The Great Outdoors". I have spent many of my days building sand castles, body surfing waves, and tanning on the warm sand on a hot summer's day.

Patrick Willet

•Artist:Patrick Willet  

•Title:Four Seasons: Waters Of March
•Media: Painting: Paper in Ink & Watercolor

•Dimensions: 26" x 33'

•Date: 2014

NO PROFILE PICTURE OF THE ARTIST FOUND

Patrick Willett is a self-taught visual artist living and working in Western New York. He started working as a full-time artist in 2001. Willett’s work has been exhibited extensively in Western New York and internationally including the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo History Museum and many commercial galleries. Willett’s work is held in collections worldwide. (http://www.burchfieldpenney.org/artists/artist:patrick-willett/)

• Statement: Willett captures and conveys energy in a uniquely expressive way" -Artvoice

(http://willettart.blogspot.com/2014/03/watercolors-by-patrick-willett-at.html)

•Background Information on the art:At first appearing as fresh plein d’air sketches worked out of doors, on closer inspection the deep rich surface texture of pen and ink emphasizes the artist’s careful attention to detail, working his images over time to give the appearance of the river’s flexing muscle in passages of agitation and repose. Willett’s eye for the subtle energies of nature is sharp. Like a minimalist Burchfield, he works muted tonalities of ochre, blue, and gray green to set an emotional tone for each fluid vision. Willett’s glinting glimmering ripple hint at strong psychological undercurrents in the artist’s work.  

(http://artvoice.com/issues/v13n12/art_scene/waters_of_march?fb_action_ids=733928703286956&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.UyyNyfY8jhE.like)

•Theme Connection:The rippling river in the month of March is another example of the beauty that mother nature has to offer in the "The Great Outdoors". The serenity and peacefulness of the water is something I have been lucky to experience many times while camping and fishing throughout my life.