webmaster
07-05-2008, 09:34 PM
Michelle Arterburn Wins Award Of Merit
in Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 33rd Exhibition <br>
<center><img src="http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/ArteMichNMWSa.jpg" border="1" align="center" alt="Artist Michelle Arterburn's award winning 'Street Painter of Old San Juan'"><br><font size= 2 face="Arial Narrow"><b>Artist Michelle Arterburn's award winning 'Street Painter of Old San Juan'</b></font></center><br>
Las Cruces NM - Local Artist Michelle Arterburn recently received an Award of Merit during the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition for her watercolor titled, "Street Artist of Old San Juan".
Although she has been painting in watercolors for years, Arterburn has painted professionally for just 6 years. She happened on the scene that inspired this painting during a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico where she found the street painter working on his art while wandering the narrow streets of old San Juan. She talked with the painter about his work and visited his nearby studio and gallery.
That chance encounter and the friendship she formed inspired her award-winning painting. In discussing the art, Michelle explained she worked hard to recreate minute details of the scene in which the artist had mystifyingly splattered paint on his nearly-finished canvas. She remarked that even the bluish tint in the cobblestones is consistent with what she saw that day. “It must be something they put in the bricks that produces that color,” she added.
In addition to painting award-winning watercolors, Arterburn is also an accomplished fiber artist. She uses a four harness loom to create multicolored weavings & wall art suitable for framing. She also designs and creates jewelry in her spare time; but painting is clearly her artistic passion and it certainly shows in this work.
The art exhibition where the Certificate of Merit was awarded took place at the Tubac Center for the Arts, in Tubac AZ. The show was juried by international artist, Katherine Chang Liu.
The WFWS exhibition represents members’ work from nine regional watercolor societies and guilds west of the Mississippi. Juror, Ms. Liu chose just 100 paintings to be included in this year’s show from among 900 entries received.
Though she never mentioned it, Arterburn had good reason to feel honored her art was picked for the exhibition –considering the stiff competition for space there. Still, Steppin’ Out was not surprised "Street Artist of Old San Juan" was selected to appear at WFWS or that it won an award there. It is, after all, an impressive work of art about art. That alone makes it both noteworthy and unforgettable.
Congratulations to the artist. The award seems well deserved.
in Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 33rd Exhibition <br>
<center><img src="http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/ArteMichNMWSa.jpg" border="1" align="center" alt="Artist Michelle Arterburn's award winning 'Street Painter of Old San Juan'"><br><font size= 2 face="Arial Narrow"><b>Artist Michelle Arterburn's award winning 'Street Painter of Old San Juan'</b></font></center><br>
Las Cruces NM - Local Artist Michelle Arterburn recently received an Award of Merit during the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition for her watercolor titled, "Street Artist of Old San Juan".
Although she has been painting in watercolors for years, Arterburn has painted professionally for just 6 years. She happened on the scene that inspired this painting during a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico where she found the street painter working on his art while wandering the narrow streets of old San Juan. She talked with the painter about his work and visited his nearby studio and gallery.
That chance encounter and the friendship she formed inspired her award-winning painting. In discussing the art, Michelle explained she worked hard to recreate minute details of the scene in which the artist had mystifyingly splattered paint on his nearly-finished canvas. She remarked that even the bluish tint in the cobblestones is consistent with what she saw that day. “It must be something they put in the bricks that produces that color,” she added.
In addition to painting award-winning watercolors, Arterburn is also an accomplished fiber artist. She uses a four harness loom to create multicolored weavings & wall art suitable for framing. She also designs and creates jewelry in her spare time; but painting is clearly her artistic passion and it certainly shows in this work.
The art exhibition where the Certificate of Merit was awarded took place at the Tubac Center for the Arts, in Tubac AZ. The show was juried by international artist, Katherine Chang Liu.
The WFWS exhibition represents members’ work from nine regional watercolor societies and guilds west of the Mississippi. Juror, Ms. Liu chose just 100 paintings to be included in this year’s show from among 900 entries received.
Though she never mentioned it, Arterburn had good reason to feel honored her art was picked for the exhibition –considering the stiff competition for space there. Still, Steppin’ Out was not surprised "Street Artist of Old San Juan" was selected to appear at WFWS or that it won an award there. It is, after all, an impressive work of art about art. That alone makes it both noteworthy and unforgettable.
Congratulations to the artist. The award seems well deserved.