J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art: Art Tips, Reviews, Fine Art, and Custom Framing News
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A Scale Comparison in Western Art
.......Then and Now of Arthur McCall......
Gabriel
Diego Delgado
Arthur
McCall, native Texan painter of country time “nostalgia” is known for his
standard easel size painting; depicting the serene Texas hill country of yonder
years. However, recently an older painting of McCall’s has resurfaced on the
art market that is unique in its physicality measuring 66” x 32”.
This tall and slender vertical ranch scene with
an enormous skyline titled “South Texas” has a certain “walk-in” quality.
Centered perfectly in the middle of the picture sits a ragged and dilapidated
barn, complete with broken and missing board and batten siding. Nestled on the
right side of the structure, snug like a sleeping baby sits an antique
automobile underneath a carport-- lost in time with tires growing roots into
the parched Texas ranchland. Rusted tin
roofs are proof of a once sustainable agriculture and accommodating climate. No longer worked from sun up to sun down, this
estate has been left to be reclaimed by the unforgiving arid surroundings.
"South Texas"
Crisscrossed
paths add visual routes for our eyes to follow from the foreground to the back
of the barn, through the shanty fence line. A hollow and darkened door-less
entry awaits any curious weekend explorer looking for unclaimed keepsakes of Texas
legacies. Patches of dried out, once
luscious, greenery has been met with encroaching deserts from South Texas,
forming triangular patterns of Mother Nature zeroscaping. Skeletal remains of a covered wagon are preserved like some archeological
specimen of some western antiquity. This
naked wooden utilitarian cart maintains its own special rigor –mortis fragility
in rusted and rustic landscape permanence.
Various
shades of yellow, pink, mauve, blue, violet, orange, cream, green, and white
swoop and swoon you into the painting with McCall’s elegant setting summertime
sun. The “V” shaped billows converge on the windmill, an anchoring point to
ground you back to the horizon line. Owning half of the overall viewing
experience, the atmospheric qualities add a meditative essence piggybacking on heartfelt
tugs of nostalgic past memories.
"Mason County"
On the other
hand, McCall’s newest painting “Mason County”, 2013 is a moderate 18” x 24”. A small masterpiece depicting its own
systematic scale comparison between massive boulders and the undersized flock
of foraging fowls. Scattered cactus
speckle the brush, while a male “gobbler” turkey displays his ornamental array
of feathered beauty; calling on his hens to pay notice. Dwarfed by the looming
boulders and uncompromising Texas terrain, this temperamental “Tom” stands back
to adore his flock. Granite rocks
dominate the composition like nature’s pillars, solid and immoveable--a
defensive barrier to the ever expanding and encroaching urban sprawl. Mesquite trees peek from behind, lined up at
attention like soldiers protecting McCall’s nostalgic country time innocence.
©Gabriel Diego Delgado 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Ile d' Orleans
Ild d’ Orleans
“The canvas is first prepared with a
coat of burnt sienna. That is the light
that integrates all the subject matter.
This coat appears everywhere on the canvas and is one important
characteristic of my technique. That burned
sienna is the light that integrates the scene and gives it the desired
vibration. The second important
characteristic is the heavy impasto I deposit on the canvas which makes
possible the random rendering of the subject.
The third is the vibration of the layers of colors when they are one
beside the others to create the atmosphere, the ambiance, and the temperature
of the moment. The fourth is the mix of
numbers of colors in the same brush stroke, giving the flickering effect. Then comes the loose movement I give to each
stroke, as if the wind is playing with it, which gives the painting the desired
of movement.”
-Samir Sammoun
**Page 7, “Note
from the Artist”-Samir Sammoun Walking with the Giants, J.R. Mooney
Galleries, May 2010
Ile d’ Orleans
Samir Sammounb
12” x 16”
Oil on Canvas
$3480.00
A vivacious outlook, Ile d’ Orleans is vibrant glow of
exaggerated hues, reminiscent of the 1960’s day-glow posters with neon yellows
and pink gestures that scatter amongst the swaying spring grasses. The ruddy accents dance across all levels of
spatial illusions, guiding us like a host of masterful choreographers; offering
lessons of color and rhythm. Three darkened clusters of bush and shrubbery
regulate the foreground, blocking off the viewer from the cool calming blue
waters; a strong horizontal rendered midpoint in the overall pictorial
composition.
Sammoun recasts another row
of linear elements as a buttery embankment and dense tree line, each anchoring
the background in its own unique impressionistic manner. The firmament swirls
with various blue tones that are overlapped onto the brunt sienna; revealing peeks
of a drab brown under painting; an artistic undergarment exposed throughout the
whole painting.
©Gabriel Diego Delgado
JR Mooney Galleries
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Samir Sammoun
These 5 new
paintings by Samir Sammoun at J.R. Mooney Galleries are part of an expansive
selection of his work now available at the gallery after his successful showing
at NYC ArtExpo 2013. Mr. Bob Mooney has
made available 9 new paintings by Samir Sammoun in the San Antonio gallery.
Samir
Sammoun was born in 1952 in a quaint Lebanese village perched atop the Chouf
Mountain, 40 km south of Beirut. To this day, the artist vividly recalls the colorful
Mediterranean landscape of his childhood. At age 21, Samir immigrated to Canada
where he obtained degrees in electronic engineering and telecommunications.
Since graduation, he has pursued his professional career as well as his
passion, painting.
See more of
his work and an artist bio at http://sammoun.com
To purchase these works by Samir Sammoun and others, Call 210.828.8214
To purchase these works by Samir Sammoun and others, Call 210.828.8214
Amadiers
30 x 40"
$15,000
Champ de ble Bekaa etude
8 x 10"
$1800
Beyad homage Amon pese
24 x 30"
$9000
Ile de Orleans
12 x 16"
$3480
Vallie e la Bekanet Mont Liban
16 x 20"
$560
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Longevity, Civility and Perseverance-JR Mooney Galleries & The Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home
April 2013 edition of The Explore -Kendall County's Most Popular Magazine.
**On Page 37-38 is an article that showcases two important business in Boerne and their unique historical contributions to Texas!!
See the Magazine and the article at:
Longevity, Civility and Perseverance
How two businesses achieved historical recognition-
“Texas
-Gabriel Diego Delgado
website: www.jrmooneygalleries.com
--Boerne, Texas, a city unique
as its name, lays claim to two businesses out of only 41 in the state of Texas
Each with its own exceptional history, family contributions, civil leadership, pioneering innovations and exceptional business practices, J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art and The Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home strive to continue serving a revered legacy set forth by past family generations; akin to their respectively honored business leaders that sacrificed, challenged and succeeded in all economic climates of Texas over the last 60+ years.
JR Mooney Gallery Interior
Original JR Mooney Signage and exterior facade
“Only less than 2% of all businesses ever receive this recognition”, said Senator Jeff Wentworth, while presenting the certificate to Robert Mooney, President of J.R. Mooney Galleries, on December 15, 2012 at the
Bob Mooney on the Senate Floor in Austin, Texas
Historical decal
On January 23, 2013, representatives from 6 other Texas businesses, including J.R. Mooney Galleries and The
Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home were recognized at the State Capital in Austin , Texas
The Explore Magazine article, April 2013 edition
These tales of achievement are mirrored in the sincere words
of Texas Historical Commision Chairman, Matt Kreisle, “It is a privilege for us to recognize our long-established businesses
that have remained committed to Texans for generations, while creating jobs and
stimulating economic growth…May this recognition serve to increase success and
productivity for many years to come.”
Evolving through inevitable growing pains, all businesses
rise and fall to the occasion; making decisions that shape their business
culture for future generations and clients alike. J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine
Art and The Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home were no exceptions.
Robert Mooney shares one story of how the ever changing Texas
Her proudest feat was being able to restore the original
long leaf heart pine floors which are now only available through reclaiming.
Adelle Mooney
Joe Mooney
Stories of handing over the business reins could be felt at
the funeral home as well, seen in the historical lineage of how the Fisher
Family joined ranks with the Ebensbergers. “George
‘Sonny’ Ebensberger, 4th generation owner, joined his dad in the business in
1977. His wife Yvonne and he took over the funeral home business in 2000. Sonny
and Yvonne were looking to retire and knew the timing was right when they met
the Fisher family around early 2008. Even though they are enjoying retirement,
they remained partial owners of the business and stepped into help as needed.
Sonny and Yvonne knew Dustin “Dusty” and me to view the business as a ministry
and that we strived to treat each family they served with integrity and
compassion just as the Ebensbergers have for the last 130 years”, says Jo Lynn Fisher .
“In December of 2008, the funeral
home became Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home when Dusty Fisher took over the day
to day operation of the funeral home which allowed Sonny and Yvonne to
partially retire. Myself and our two children joined him in Boerne in February
of 2009. Under my direction, major renovations to the funeral home were
completed in 2009 while staying true to the original structure and maintaining
its architectural integrity”, she says boastfully.
Mr. Bob Mooney and Sen Jeff Wentworth
Friday, March 29, 2013
Ready Made Framing Room
The ready made framing room is looking good and organized---ready to go.... Come to JR Mooney Galleries for all your framing needs, this is our standard sizes that are ready to sell ...bring your pictures by to get framed ..
We are also experts in Custom framing......210.828.8214
X. Song Jiang-- 2013 ---At J.R. Mooney Galleries
These are the new Xiao Jiang paintings that were purchased at ArtExpo 2013. Available for sale at J.R. Mooney Galleries.
Call 210.828.8214 for details on pricing and sizes.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Back to Texas from New York ArtExpo 2013
...New York ArtExpo 2013 was a
success. Mr. Mooney of J.R. Mooney Galleries was impressed with all the
vendors, the products available and the quality of the fine art for
purchase.
Now, J.R. Mooney Galleries is proud
to announce the availability of 5 new small paintings by internationally
acclaimed Impressionistic painter, X. Song Jiang.
--X. Jiang won the 2012 Gold
Medal Award funded by the Oil Painters of America and the National Juried Exhibition
Association Signature Division.
***One of the new paintings available by X. Jiang for sale at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art is:
“Muskoka”
X.
Song Jiang
Oil on panel
8” x 10”
Call 210.828.8214 for pricing
A rocky buttress juts forth leading the viewer into the
abyss of watery loneliness. A central
element in the figure/ground relationship, the seemingly abstract micro-levee
is speckled with crops of hatched-in vegetation and water grasses. This angled
outcropping of light colored earth tones abruptly ends at a buoyant but eerily
still flatboat canoe. The solo manmade
component is reflecting an impressionistic rendition of itself in the cerulean
tones below, a watery and mirrored doppelganger void of the same
personification as seen in the desolate dinghy.
Heavily accentuated and contrasting shadows made by the setting sun add
a much needed breath of richness to the lifeless vessel; an important element
that acts as a connection point from the pier to the various strata of
tree-lined reflections and bands of monotone viridian horizon lines.
Placed in the upper eight of the overall picture, these
strong parallel delineations rise from the lower right, upside-down reflections
to the yellow ochre autumn foliage which gleams in its seasonal beauty to
darkened emulations of coniferous canopy. The escalating rhythm is broken by a dominantly
impasto-esque shoreline of knee high grasses, a horizontal base for the
majestic treetops of the Canadian wilderness; back-dropped by the lilac brume
of mountainous ambiguity. A bleached-out
sky overcast with heavy atmospheric wintery gloom pushes down on this fleeting
light with threats of snow and artic temperament.
© Gabriel Diego Delgado
gabrield@jrmooneygalleries.com
www.jrmooneygalleries.com
Friday, March 22, 2013
Blog Press Preview of Night of the Artists
Dr. Steven Karr hosted a blogger press preview for the Night of the Artists exhibition at the Briscoe Western Art Museum.
J.R. Mooney Galleries was in attendance to check on the great artwork of Mark Keathley and Cliff Cavin.
With two levels and multiple free standing walls, the layout of the exhibition compliments the interior of the Jack Guenther Pavilion.
Here are some images of Mark Keathley and Cliff Cavin's work at the Briscoe
http://www.jrmooneygalleries.com/index.php?route=product/manufacturer/product&manufacturer_id=587
To View Mark Keathley's work that is available for sale click here:
http://www.jrmooneygalleries.com/index.php?route=product/manufacturer/product&manufacturer_id=131
J.R. Mooney Galleries was in attendance to check on the great artwork of Mark Keathley and Cliff Cavin.
With two levels and multiple free standing walls, the layout of the exhibition compliments the interior of the Jack Guenther Pavilion.
Here are some images of Mark Keathley and Cliff Cavin's work at the Briscoe
Both Mark and Cliff are represented by J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art .
To view Cliff Cavin's work that is for sale at JR Mooney Galleries click here:
To View Mark Keathley's work that is available for sale click here:
http://www.jrmooneygalleries.com/index.php?route=product/manufacturer/product&manufacturer_id=131
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Night of the Artists at the Briscoe Western Art Museum
Cliff Cavin and Mark Keathly at the Briscoe Western Art Museum
--Two of the artists that J.R. Mooney Galleries represents is in the annual Night of the Artists at the Briscoe Western Art Museum.
Read the full article at:
On page 74-75
***Thanks to NHOME Magazine and The Briscoe Western Art Museum!***
Night of the Artists
A Cultural Culmination of Contemporary Cowboy and Western Art
There is a robust and rustic rendition of contemporary Western Art rounding out the rodeo and Fiesta season at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio with the Night of the Artists Art Sale & Reception on March 23, 2013. For over a decade the Night of the Artists Art Sale & Reception has had the opportunity to celebrate contemporary Western Art with the who’s who of Western artists. In its twelfth year, this art sale continues on display for a free month-long Night of Artists Public Exhibition which began as a conceptual art idea perfect for San Antonio and staged at the “gateway” to South Texas, says the Briscoe Museum’s Executive Director, Dr. Steven Karr.
On its website fact page it states, “The Briscoe Western Art Museum (governed by the National Western Art Foundation), is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation established to create a nationally recognized museum open to the public and devoted to the art, history, and culture of the American West, with a contextual emphasis on San Antonio, South Texas, and the Southwest.” “The Briscoe Museum San Antonio that would house such a conceptual Western Art endeavor; ultimately located in the former San Antonio Central Library built in 1930.
The Briscoe is a non-profit corporation established to create a nationally recognized museum open to the public and devoted to the art, history, and culture of the American West, with a contextual emphasis on San Antonio, South Texas, and the Southwest. “The Briscoe Museum was formalized with a contribution from the late Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. (April 23, 1923 – June 27, 2010),” says Dr. Karr. This lead gift established the funds to create a physical museum in downtown San Antonio that would house the Western art endeavor; ultimately located in the historically significant former San Antonio Central Library built in 1930.
“The Briscoe Museum has evolved along with the Night of the Artists”, says Karr. Previously staged at various venues and locations throughout the decade-long run, last year’s Night of the Artists (2012) finally saw its home venue christening on the picturesque grounds of the Briscoe’s Jack Guenther Pavilion; part of the one and one-quarter acres of land comprising two buildings and the new expansive McNutt Courtyard and Sculpture Garden located on the historic San Antonio River Walk.
“There is something unique to this year’s Night of the Artists,” says Dr. Karr. A new approach has reshaped this signature San Antonio exhibition into a fun and festive art sale with a competitive application process for the artists. “Night of Artists has turned into the largest contemporary Western Art show in Texas with 65 artists featured in this year’s exhibition,” said Dr. Karr.
Even through such rigorous processes, two of the spotlighted artists in the Briscoe exhibition are officially represented by a local San Antonio Gallery. Cliff Cavin and Mark Keathley have been a fixture of the San Antonio Art scene for collectively over 30 years; Cliff Cavin at the Boerne J.R. Mooney Gallery and Mark Keathley at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art-San Antonio.
Although they have two different styles and aesthetics, Cavin and Keathley bring a true Texas flair to the Briscoe’s Night of the Artists. Cliff Cavin is a landscape purist, dedicated to the capturing of light, of atmosphere, of sub-stratospheric heavens bounded by impressionistic traditionalism, while Mark Keathley’s evocative sensibilities are hammered home with lively landscapes and nostalgic pictorial epiphanies of Native American cultural identity.
In Clouds over Nambe, a large 36” x 48” landscape in Night of the Artists, Cavin portrays a cerulean skyline; full of Crepuscular light, enraptured with billows of atmospheric haze; lingering on the dying days of summer sentimentality. The autumn blossoming of the Chamisa, with its golden bloom accents this stellar impressionistic landscape painting of Nambe , New Mexico
Winding stretches of desert sand obscured by dense patches of typical New Mexico
As derived from over three decades of careful study, Cliff knows that an object in the distance will shift toward blue because it does not reflect as much light. He revs down his color palette by taking cues from the masters like Leonardo da Vinci who noticed that as a landscape recedes from the viewer its colors and tones alter (aerial perspective or atmospheric perspective). Well played Cliff, well played indeed! A textbook landing of hue-rrific proportions for such majestic geographical icons. Nevertheless, Cavin ventures on and reverses the previously used conventional color theory tuning into another conjecture and depicts clouds growing darker and warmer instead of cooler; dipping in with subtle scarlet blends in the otherwise blanched firmament.
Contrasting Cavin, Keathley’s painterly essence is found in his quasi-hyper realism. Capturing water ripples, muscle contours, textures and various other details, Keathley proves that Contemporary Western Art is making significant contributions to the Art World. Native Sun, a 36” x 48” painting depicting five Native Americans complete with War paint, mounted on horseback is a titled play on words; referencing American Patriotic identities with Native American religious celestial bodies.
Careful attention has been paid to each horse’s coat, unique marking differentiate the equine selections; mimicked in the smeared applications of Native American bodily decorations. However, poised at various attentive gestures, the signatory Western Art animals are looking in different directions- each reflecting on his own territorial owning of the vast open plains. But, there is no outwardly distinction of the contemplative notions of the Indian riders. Silhouetted by the drooping setting sun, each face is hallowed by a illustrious glow, accenting the facial profile, eluding to a religious overtone or coveted nostalgic nobility of these long gone inhabitants.
Bold highlights and accents of blue, orange, yellow and red litter the foreground grasses, while partly sunny and ephemeral heavens juxtapose the detailed subjects. The quadrigeminal composition of true “American” equestrians offsets to the right, placing the second from left rider in the center focal point. Holding the only modern technological weapon, the rifle, this warrior is surveying the immeasurable pride lands of this tribal band. Mark Keathley does poetic justice with Native Sun, with all its sentimental and nostalgic portrayals of romanticized Native American Art.
Rounding out the one night of festivities for Night of the Artists Art Sale & Reception, Karr closes with a notable summary of events for The Briscoe Museum exhibition. “Even if you’re not an art purchaser, keep in mind it is whole heartedly a free contemporary Western art exhibition and will remain on view for a month at the Jack Guenther Pavilion…becoming a representational precursor to what the public will see in the adjacent galleries of The Briscoe when it opens its doors in the fall.”
The Night of the Artists Public Exhibition will run March 24 through April 28, 2013. The Briscoe Museum 210 W. Market St. , San Antonio , TX 78205 , Tel. 210.299.4499. For more information, visit their website at: www.briscoemuseum.org.
© Gabriel Diego Delgado
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A generic gestalt of tranquility from Richard Riverin
Le
Ruisseau
Richard
Riverin
30” x 24”
Oil
$7250
J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art
San Antonio, Texas
210-828-8214
A serene sky of cerulean stratums create a tiered
arrangement of artist-invented blues and whites. The two houses are so plain in
structure that they elude to an artist memory more than an actuality, each one
with its own simplified tree. Riverin cares more for the impressionistic
qualities of the setting natural light and dominate shadows blanketing the
opposing walls of these residences. He completes this trademark landscape with picturesque
buildings, but names the painting for the stream that trickles in through the
lower half of the painting.
Several strong horizontal linear elements act as visual steps as we are led from horizon to riverbank to opposing shore and down to the foreground; all painted with repetitive palette knife swatches that compliment the levelness of the composition with their hard edged impasto ridges. Accents of a patented crimson
color compose the brush, the only evidence of a turning season.
Gleaming with a
generic gestalt, Le Ruisseau succeeds as a straightforward and generalized
account of ones man’s artistic vision.
© Gabriel Diego Delgado
Monday, March 11, 2013
Nostalgia for All Country Time Lovers
Arthur McCall
“November”
Acrylic on panel
$995.00
-In the backwoods of a scenic schmaltz lives Arthur McCall’s
signatory world of Country Time aesthetic- memories of a rustic longing. He revels in the days of wind pumps, water
wells and simple living. He illustrates a sense of trouble-free days, ones on
which you cannot help but stop and watch the quail feed on the scattered underbrush.
“November” is a 24” x 18” acrylic on panel that holds true to McCall’s
self proclaimed purity of stoic sentimentality.
Systematically arranged by structural size, each constructional
element increases in size from left to right. The shed bookended on the left
side of the panel lines up against the gawky and naked tree which is countered
by the crumbling façade of a rusting water tower- an abandoned architectural
epitaph contrasted by the slender architectural lines of the elongated wind
pump.
The circular water well is nestled in the middle of the
composition, stained with corrosion dripping down to the parched soil. Semi-arid
and hazy, the landscape seems to breathe dust while wearing a speckled skin of sagebrush
and cactus.
Upon closer inspection, one can see a repeated shape in the
barren landscape. Notice the shape of the middle fowl; wing down and slender
body angled. Now compare with that with the contour of the vegetation-less area
housing the feathered flights- visualize the outline of a downward wing, body,
and beak.
Compositionally complete, the foreground, middle ground,
background and horizon match up perfectly. The center line evenly divides the
viewing in half with one being the ground and other the sky. Plain in its
effectiveness McCall successfully alienates technology in this autumn landscape.
© Gabriel Diego Delgado
J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art
gabrield@jrmooneygalleries.com
“November” is available
for purchase at J.R. Mooney Galleries- $995.00 (canvas only).
www.jrmooneygalleries.com
210-828-8214
Texas Hill Country Revisited
Cliff Cavin
“Texas
22” x 30”
2013
$3275
“Texas Wildflowers”, a
simplistic but elegantly painted hill country scene is a new painting by San Antonio landscape
painter, Cliff Cavin. Although the title
declares the painting should be about the broad expanse of the flower blooms;
the Indian Paintbrushes, Bluebonnets, and such- the tree line steals the
spotlight. I am not talking about the overpowering Oak that you might think,
but the creeping silently and gangly small twig-like narrow saplings off to the
left that divvy for our attention--like some outstretched alien finger; unidentifiable
but curiously inviting.
Pictorially, Cavin angles the composition upward to the
right side of the canvas; an unusual pictorial angle that accents the shape of Mother
Nature’s irregular rows of wind dispersed flowers. Orange , Blue, Green, and White gently roll
with blooming abundance as each distinct hue bears witness to the ever resilient
Texas Hill Country. However, wallowing in the field of undisturbed meadow, there
is an oddly pronounced large patch of chartreuse blooms. This oasis of vivid greenery holds the field stable
and in view, like a horticultural anchor, keeping our eye from wandering off
the picture plane. Shallow shades fill
the mid-ground as we assess the midday sunlight. Profiled against the dark
shrubbery are pockets of extended stems that hold some flowers high above
others, extending out into the warmness of the day.
©Gabriel Diego Delgado
JR Mooney Galleries
gabrield@jrmooneygalleries.com
“Texas
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)