Featured Artist Friday - Chuck Close: A Contemporary Master

Chuck Close -Roy II - 1940 - Oil on canvas, 102 x 84 in. (259.1 x 213.4 cm) - Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (click photo for larger image)American artist Chuck Close (born 1940) achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits. Though a catastrophic spinal artery collapse in 1988 left him severely paralyzed, he has continued to paint and produce work that remains sought after by museums and collectors.

Featured Artist Friday: Sylvia Plimack Mangold

Sylvia Plimack Mangold - The Maple Tree (Summer) - 2011 - oil on linen - 15 x 20 in/38 x 51 cm - Photo:  Joerg Lohse (click photo for larger image)American artist Sylvia Plimack Mangold (born 1938) studied at the Cooper Union and Yale University. She known for her representational depictions of interior spaces and the natural environment, which sometimes inclde trompe l’oeil elements. Mangold lives and works in New York, and her works can be found in some of the most prestigious museums in the country.

Featured Artist Friday: Molly Rodman

Molly RodmanMolly Rodman is a creative and multi-talented artist with experience in illustration, concept design, and toy design. With a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, she is currently the Lead Designer at a plush toy company.

Molly Rodman, “Beast” (click photo for larger image)

Molly Rodman, “Squidman” (click photo for larger image)

Molly Rodman, “Untitled” (click photo for larger image)

Featured Artist Friday: Vickie Walker

Vickie Walker“I have a M.S in Computer Security from USC and a B.A. in Computer Science and Social Science from UCI, but retired when my first son was born, due to illness.

"I’m a docent for both the Palos Verdes Art Center and the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy--and spend a lot of time at PVAC taking classes. I love art history, oil painting, silk painting, and glass blowing arts. I enjoy taking classes from all of my instructors, because there’s always something new to learn! Now that my sons--Eric (22) and Grant (20) are grown--I’m spending more time than ever on my arts related activities.

"My husband recently retired from JP to throw himself in gardening. We enjoy traveling--and my trip photos provide a lot of subject matter for my artwork.”

Vickie Walker - “Marin’s City” - 16x20 in. - Oil on canvas (click photo for larger image)Vickie Walker - “Mario’s Getty” - 16x20 in. - Oil on canvas (click photo for larger image)Vickie Walker - “City Dwellers” - Photograph (click photo for larger image)Vickie Walker - “Crystal Clear” - Photograph (click photo for larger image)

Featured Artist Friday: Seth Armstrong

Seth Armstrong, artist photo (click photo for larger image)Seth Armstrong was born and raised in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles, California. After studying painting in Northern Holland, he received a BFA from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and Oakland. He now lives and works in Los Angeles. To see more of the very fine artist’s work, be sure to visit his website.

Seth Armstrong - "Another Thing Coming" - Oil on canvas - 36 x 28 in. (click photo for larger image)Seth Armstrong - "Volcano Lady" - Oil on canvas - 26 x 24 in. (click photo for larger image)Seth Armstrong - "Cow Boy" - Oil on canvas - 24 x 15 in. (click photo for larger image)