Arty4ever Blog

It's the end of another busy week and I'd like to take a moment to write about another amazing artist I know: Sean Hennessey This is an example of the unusual artwork Sean creates: See my last post for a photo of Sean being awarded the Bowling Pin of Excellence Award. Many things make me think of Sean... lightbulbs, plugs, doors, locks, lost coffee and good cognac to name a few.   I forget the first time I met Sean but it was probably at Artomatic or an artdc.org event.  However, shortly after I became a full-time freelance artist in the summer of 2006 I had the opportunity to work with Sean on a large faux finishing project he needed an extra hand with. He showed me how to create faux stone and how to apply gold leaf in a classic damask pattern. Using these techniques we transformed the bare walls of a newly built mansion in Potomac, MD into a truly elegant home. It was not only a great opportunity to learn new artistic techniques but also ...

I have been busy of late and haven't had time to post about another of my artist friends until now.  One of the things I have been working on is a number of new pieces for an exhibit that runs through March 3rd at the ArtDC Gallery. Join me for the opening reception tomorrow evening. ( Click here for details .) Okay, next up I'd like to introduce you to  Todd Gardner ... I have known Todd for many years and he is a well known in the DC area not only as a fine artist but also as an entertaining Master of Ceremonies for the DC area burlesque scene where he goes by the stage name Hot Todd Lincoln!  Todd is not an introvert!  He's as confident on stage with a microphone in his hand as he is at the easel with a brush. I have seen his painting style progress from portraits to puns. I have had the pleasure of exhibiting with him at large events - like Artomatic - smaller events - like DCAC and artdc shows - and special exhibits - like Alternate Realities;  ...

It's the end of another week and time to write about another artist I know...   Next up is Dana Ellyn .  I met Dana through Matt Sesow and she is another popular artist in the DC area.  She is always smiling and very friendly. You can tell that she loves what she does.    Dana does not shy away from controversy and most of her paintings are political and/or religious. All of them have stories to tell and she is fearless in her delivery. I believe that the true test of art is how successful it is at evoking an emotion from the viewer. It doesn't have to be a good feeling but it should make you feel something. Dana's message is always loud and powerful and I really respect her fearlessness. However, what I enjoy most is the "bad puns" she often uses for the titles of her paintings. Dana's art may punch you in the gut but her titles often provide a punchline that leaves you smiling.  To see more of Dana's work, visit: http://www.d...

One of my new year resolutions is to post more on this blog. (we shall see how it goes) I've decided to not only post about myself but also write about some of the other artists I know. A feature of my fellow artist friends every Friday ( or whenever I can find the time )... First up, I would like to introduce you to Matt Sesow .  Matt is a Washington DC artist known for his raw and vivid paintings that pack a punch of emotion. I first met Matt in 2002 at Artomatic - which was one of my first exhibits. He had his work on display in a room close to mine and had filled his wall from top to bottom with his artwork. It was opening night and he was sitting on the floor laying out even more paintings! My first impression was that this was a guy who is prolific! I didn't really get to know Matt until a few years later after commenting on his posts on the artdc.org forum and continuing to bump into him at other art events like the Adams Morgan Day Festival . Despite the ...