Art Consultant's Spotlight: "Watching Proudly" by R. Mizoy

 

 

This large majestic oil painting features a Native American warrior sitting on his white steed. The horse stands in shallow water and in the background is the warrior’s village. He wears a halo war bonnet or headdress. These headpieces were originally worn by Plains Indian men who had earned a place of respect in their tribe. The headdress was worn only for special occasions and was a display of courage and honor. They were and still are made of golden eagle feathers and are sometimes painted red to commemorate certain events. To obtain the feathers the men would climb into the golden eagle’s nests and pluck them from the young. Today, in the United States, only enrolled members of a tribe may legally possess eagle feathers as the species is protected. In the past, each feather was earned, either in battle or for a good deed. If the warrior acquired enough feathers one of his family members would sew together the headdress. The warrior had to have the permission of the chief to wear it and only few were awarded this high honor, as a man may collect only two or three eagle feathers during his entire life.

Since the halo war bonnet was worn only during special occasions and by special people, it is likely this warrior is reflecting upon his life while on his way to a ceremony or other tribal event. His headdress has much red painted into it, indicating that he has a lengthy history of heroic deeds. The fact that his horse is white is a symbol of his good character. Together, their physical reflection in the water visually symbolizes personal reflection. The headdress he wears is a testament to the deeds and achievements that created his legacy. He stands erect, alert in front of his village, still the protector. He has fought hard, hunted and worked his entire life to keep his people safe and prosperous as is indicated by the headdress. Now, he takes a moment for silent, proud reflection.

©Gina Martinez, Art Consultant, J.R. Mooney Galleries, Boerne, TX
Please Contact J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art for Availability and Pricing
1 800 537 9609 Toll Free
210 828 8214 San Antonio, TX Location
830 816 5706 Boerne, TX Location

Framing Consultant Spotlight: "A Frame at the Water's Edge"

Selecting the right frame for a piece of artwork can be a challenge. It is important to find the right materials and framing design to compliment the work and to understand how it relates to it. A frame is a design element itself and there are several aspects to consider.

 

 

 “The Water’s Edge” by J. Yoon is a large and colorful oil painting that shows a floral landscape meeting a pond. It is important to consider the size, texture and feeling of the painting when considering a frame.

For this work, we stacked two moldings together to create a frame size that is to scale with the painting. There is no rule of how wide a frame must be, but in this case it must be wide enough to cover the borders and strong enough to support the weight of the canvas. The next element to consider is the texture of the painting. This oil painting makes use of impasto techniques and that paint becomes the layers of grass and growth reaching out towards an abundantly thriving pond. For this example, stacking not only creates a frame that is the proper size, but also one that has layers just as the painting does. Texture also exists in the materials chosen for the frame. Distressed wood and gold leafing comprise the frame, all natural looking just like the painting. Finally, the overall aesthetics are important to consider when framing. It is important to choose a frame that will be congruent with the style of the painting.   

The slip moulding is Roma brand, Palladio #760055. This moulding features natural wood fillet aligned with a gold carved hand finished frieze that has a C-Scroll pattern that resembles leaves or grass blowing in the wind and completes the sight edge of the frame. The frieze portion of the sight edge is very delicate. Roma’s website describes it saying: “More than ten layers of colorant, hand-applied leafing, patinas and wax are applied to achieve the desired finish of this highly architectural moulding.” It brightens the painting and the warm tones enhance the subtle lighting that bathes the flowers and reflects off the water. The gold motif portion of the sight edge also breaks up the complimenting woods which add another layer of texture to the overall frame. For the back edge (or principal moulding), Roma Cabane #261059 was used. Roma describes: “Our Cabane mouldings rustic charm, rich hues and subtle highlights of color are hand applied and distressed by skilled artisans whose careful attention to detail evokes the beauty attained only by time and nature.” The thick distressed wood has a warm tone that compliments the rich hues of dark green, purple, and blue found in the painting as well as the hand finished gold and wood of the sight edge. It is solid and sturdy just like the mighty trees that are in the forest behind the pond, and it is in keeping with the natural style of the artwork.  

Overall, the organic ornate sight edge paired with the distressed wood back edge of this frame does not overwhelm the serene scene near the water, but rather encapsulates the jewel tones of the painting like a filigree band holds a brilliant emerald or sapphire. The overall design creates a uniform frame that is classic, natural and elegant.

 

Framing for "The Water's Edge"  36" x 48" oil on canvas by Yoon:

 

Inside: Roma Palladio 760055 1 ¾” primitive gold

Outside: Roma Cabane 261059 4” Aged Auberge Brown

 

©Gina Martinez, Art Consultant, J.R. Mooney Galleries, Boerne, TX
Please contact J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art for Availability and Pricing
1 800 537 9606 Toll Free
210 828 8214 San Antonio, TX Location
830 816 5706 Boerne, TX Location 

 

 

 

Art Consultant's Spotlight: "Where's My Lunch?" by R. Henderson

 

 

 R. Henderson’s portrait of a cow is no ordinary farm animal. Instead of the natural browns, whites and greens that one might expect from a traditional bovine painting, the artist uses bold bright colors: reds, purples, and blues to create his animal. This adds an element of excitement to the painting, but there is more to it than just wild colors. Even with a non­-traditional palette, the cow appears realistic. This effect is achieved by the artist through use of a palette knife technique to create texture and dimension in the paint.  The result is a Post-Impressionistic painting with a pop art twist. The psychedelic cow has a life like quality that makes this a fun and lively painting. The electric white paint becomes fur falling around the ears and the soft friendly eyes of the cow. This texture creates dimension and movement. His face is gentle and sweet, begging for a bit of grass as he saunters over to the fence, sticking his head out in expectance of a nibble.

©Gina Martinez, Art Consultant, J.R. Mooney Galleries, Boerne, TX
Please Contact J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art for Availability and Pricing
1 800 537 9609 Toll Free
210.828.8214 San Antonio, TX Location
830.816.5106 Boerne, TX Location

JR Mooney in the Boerne Star, the "Texas Vintage" exhibition catalog & BBM

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art in Boerne and Gallery Director, Gabriel Diego Delgado were featured in the arts section (pg. 18A) of Friday's Nov. 13, 2015 edition of The Boerne Star newspaper. Thank you to Connie Clark and the Texas Hill Country Council for the Arts for their support.

J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is proud to publish the "Texas Vintage" art exhibition catalog. This catalog features all the selections within the exhibition along with biographies of featured artists.  You can read the online publication here by clicking this link at: TEXAS VINTAGE Or by visiting the website: http://issuu.com/jrmooneygalleries0/docs/texas_vintage__pages

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Please take time to read our newest edition of our monthly column in the Boerne Business Monthly Magazine titled, "Mooney Makes Sense". In this month's column, we discuss some new framing lines and samples that have been recently released for custom framing options. You can read the magazine by clicking: http://issuu.com/boernemag/docs/november_2015_bbm_online

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As always, please visit our website at: www.jrmooneygalleries.com for all your fine art needs. Inventory is added regularly so check in often and search our fine art selections for both our San Antonio and Boerne gallery locations.

Art Consultant's Spotlight: "Up Late" Dalhart Windberg

Quietly the night falls in Dalhart Windberg’s oil painting, “Up Late.”  A muted bluish palette, casts a slumberous atmosphere, yet beneath the moon glow ripples softly disturb the reflection of a pond as two ducks swim languidly in unison.  Windberg, known for his immaculate and detailed technique that was inspired by viewing the Old Master’s paintings in Europe has presented a nighttime scene that is true to life.  Windberg’s signature “smooth surface” painting technique is ideal in recreating delicate features of a nocturnal moment such as the slivers of moonlight illuminating the bare branches of trees that encircle the midnight blue pond.   A gentle lunar radiance highlights muted earthy green tufts of grasses that are growing upon the moonlit water's bank, further showcasing Windberg’s eye for capturing detail.  The reflection of the moon brings attention to the two feathered inhabitants of the pond.  The highlighted ripples are zigzagging and leading the eye to travel further back into the distance, across the grassy plain that harbors a variety of reddish browns and golds, towards the horizon, where a couple of dwellings  are nestled in the blue gray shadows,.  A lone light is on in one of the homes, the only indicator of a presence that is awake in this late hour, a time for restorative contemplation.    

©Katherine Shevchenko, Art Consultant, J.R. Mooney Galleries, Boerne,TX
Please Contact J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art for Availability and Pricing
1.800.537.9609 Toll Free
210.828.8214 San Antonio, TX Location
830.816.5106 Boerne, TX Location

                   

Art Consultant Spotlight: "Roadrunner and Cactus" by Helen Hunter

Helen Hunter’s “Roadrunner and Cactus” is an intimate depiction of the regional bird in its habitat. The bird looks frail but strong and stands erect next to a blooming prickly pear cactus, possibly its nesting ground. Hunter’s roadrunner is alert, concentrating on something just beyond the reach of the canvas. It could be a predator, or possible a juicy insect about to become the bird’s next meal. The peril is not revealed to the viewer but the feeling of fight or flight remains. It is a glimpse, a rare view that catches a moment in the wild and beautiful world of the surrounding Texas countryside.

©Gina Martinez, Art Consultant, J.R. Mooney Galleries, Boerne,TX
Please Contact J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art for Availability and Pricing
1.800.537.9609 Toll Free
210.828.8214 San Antonio, TX Location
830.816.5106 Boerne, TX Location