Artist Spotlight with Chip Freund

Although it can sound a bit trite when someone says they have a real passion for something, Dan really does have a burning desire to capture on a canvas the things in our lives that make us feel more ALIVE. Art has a way of making us slow down long enough to see and even experience something beautiful or poignant or precious about life. He literally can’t wait to put paint (and a bit of his soul) on the canvas and for the next creative idea to materialize!

Dan was attracted to art from an early age, inspired by the dramatic and colorful drawings in the comic books I collected (he especially loved The Flash and Batman). As a kid, Dan mowed yards so that he could buy my next comic book. That led him to drawing and painting. Dan started college as an art major and then moved into business and marketing. Fortunately for him, after a successful business career (largely in the health and fitness industry), Dan found his way back to doing what he love…creating art! (Source: adapted from dancampbellart.com)

Dan's Artist Recommendations
Edgar Degas - www.edgar-degas.org
Claude Monet - www.claudemonetgallery.org
Vincent van Gogh - www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Jacob Dhein - www.jacobdhein.com
Henry Asencio - asenciostudio.com

Curt Butler - cbutler.faso.com

You can find Dan's work on his website dancampbellart.com

FB: @dancampbellart
IG: @dancampbellart99

Although it can sound a bit trite when someone says they have a real passion for something, Dan really does have a burning desire to capture on a canvas the things in our lives that make us feel more ALIVE. Art has a way of making us slow down long enough to see and even experience something beautiful or poignant or precious about life. He literally can’t wait to put paint (and a bit of his soul) on the canvas and for the next creative idea to materialize!

Dan was attracted to art from an early age, inspired by the dramatic and colorful drawings in the comic books I collected (he especially loved The Flash and Batman). As a kid, Dan mowed yards so that he could buy my next comic book. That led him to drawing and painting. Dan started college as an art major and then moved into business and marketing. Fortunately for him, after a successful business career (largely in the health and fitness industry), Dan found his way back to doing what he love…creating art! (Source: adapted from dancampbellart.com)

Dan's Artist Recommendations
Edgar Degas - www.edgar-degas.org
Claude Monet - www.claudemonetgallery.org
Vincent van Gogh - www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Jacob Dhein - www.jacobdhein.com
Henry Asencio - asenciostudio.com

Curt Butler - cbutler.faso.com

You can find Dan's work on his website dancampbellart.com

FB: @dancampbellart
IG: @dancampbellart99

Bayou Gray is intrigued by the human form. The slump of a shoulder, the refraction of light in an iris. The subtle shifts that tell a tale far more than words ever could. The breadth of Bayou's work tries to capture the intimate meaning of those moments and pour it back upon you. In short, Bayou wants the viewer to feel the piece, and not just see it. To that end, his tools of choice all have some meaning. Beginning with panels primed with tempura, as a link to those before. Since life moments are varied, precious, shimmering, and easy to tear, Bayou paints on metal leaf with a palette based heavily in warm tones and transparent color, the luminosity of which gives skin tones the showcase that they deserve. (Source: adapted from www.bayougray.com)

Bayou’s work can be found on his website and the .

Website: www.bayougray.com

IG: @bayougray

Bayou's artist recommendations:
Karen Offutt - karenoffutt.com
Stephanie Rew - www.stephanierew.co.uk
Alpay Efe - www.alpayefe.com

Bayou Gray is intrigued by the human form. The slump of a shoulder, the refraction of light in an iris. The subtle shifts that tell a tale far more than words ever could. The breadth of Bayou's work tries to capture the intimate meaning of those moments and pour it back upon you. In short, Bayou wants the viewer to feel the piece, and not just see it. To that end, his tools of choice all have some meaning. Beginning with panels primed with tempura, as a link to those before. Since life moments are varied, precious, shimmering, and easy to tear, Bayou paints on metal leaf with a palette based heavily in warm tones and transparent color, the luminosity of which gives skin tones the showcase that they deserve. (Source: adapted from www.bayougray.com)

Bayou’s work can be found on his website and the .

Website: www.bayougray.com

IG: @bayougray

Bayou's artist recommendations:
Karen Offutt - karenoffutt.com
Stephanie Rew - www.stephanierew.co.uk
Alpay Efe - www.alpayefe.com

Born in Winston-Salem, NC, Jane D. Steelman worked toward a degree in Art at Appalachian State University. She studied under Bill Dunlap in drawing and painting as well as Clyde Owen in Ceramics. She is certified in art education for K-12 and taught high school Advanced Digital Photography and AP Art History. She now teaches private art lessons in her home studio.

Dr. Steelman works in various media including pastels, charcoal, acrylic, oils, alcohol inks and stained glass. She enjoys the vibrant colors found in alcohol inks and stained glass and the blending qualities of pastel and oils. Her work varies from photorealistic charcoals and pastels to abstract landscapes in acrylics and alcohol inks. Dr. Steelman’s work can be found in a myriad of public and private art collections and has been seen in numerous exhibitions; local, state and international. (source: steelmanstudios.com)

Jane’s work can be found on her website and the123 Gallery in Wilson, NC.

Website: www.steelmanstudios.com

Jane's artist recommendations:

Pastel Artists
Lana Ballot, water and waves - www.lanaballot.com
Emma Colbert, animals - www.emmacolbertart.com
Lyn Diefenbach, flowers - www.ldief.com
Stephie Clark, flowers - www.stephieclark.net
Oil & Cold Wax Artist
Linda Banfalvi - www.lindabanfalvi.net
Oil Artist
Judith Dickinson - www.judithdickinson.com

Born in Winston-Salem, NC, Jane D. Steelman worked toward a degree in Art at Appalachian State University. She studied under Bill Dunlap in drawing and painting as well as Clyde Owen in Ceramics. She is certified in art education for K-12 and taught high school Advanced Digital Photography and AP Art History. She now teaches private art lessons in her home studio.

Dr. Steelman works in various media including pastels, charcoal, acrylic, oils, alcohol inks and stained glass. She enjoys the vibrant colors found in alcohol inks and stained glass and the blending qualities of pastel and oils. Her work varies from photorealistic charcoals and pastels to abstract landscapes in acrylics and alcohol inks. Dr. Steelman’s work can be found in a myriad of public and private art collections and has been seen in numerous exhibitions; local, state and international. (source: steelmanstudios.com)

Jane’s work can be found on her website and the 123 Gallery in Wilson, NC.

Website: www.steelmanstudios.com

Jane's artist recommendations:

Pastel Artists
Lana Ballot, water and waves - www.lanaballot.com
Emma Colbert, animals - www.emmacolbertart.com
Lyn Diefenbach, flowers - www.ldief.com
Stephie Clark, flowers - www.stephieclark.net
Oil & Cold Wax Artist
Linda Banfalvi - www.lindabanfalvi.net
Oil Artist
Judith Dickinson - www.judithdickinson.com

A Signature Member of Pastel Society of America, and Signature Member of Pastel Society of North Carolina, award-winning pastelist, Diana Coidan, has been an accomplished and experienced full-time professional artist for over thirty years. Although she works in many mediums, working in soft pastels is her most expressive, offering her the rich color, variety, and immediacy to paint her award-winning pastels. A Business College graduate, Diana retired from an administrative position to pursue her love for art. Self-taught and after many painting/pastel workshops with well-known instructors, she discovered her own pathway to expression in pastels and developed her own signature style with strikingly realistic results. Diana's paintings focus on movement with various sky/cloud formations, rhythm of the sea in its many forms, and marine life, all evident of her unconscious attraction to blue.
(source: dianacoidan.com)

Diana’s work can be found on her website and at Bev's Fine Art, Raleigh, Cary Gallery of Artists, Cary, and Mattie King Davis Art Gallery in Beaufort, NC.

Website: www.dianacoidan.com

Diana's artist & resource recommendations:
Sally Strand - sallystrand.com
Bob Rankin - www.bobrankin.com

Diana's Beginning Pastelsworkshop January 2023 @ Bev's Fine Art

A Signature Member of Pastel Society of America, and Signature Member of Pastel Society of North Carolina, award-winning pastelist, Diana Coidan, has been an accomplished and experienced full-time professional artist for over thirty years. Although she works in many mediums, working in soft pastels is her most expressive, offering her the rich color, variety, and immediacy to paint her award-winning pastels. A Business College graduate, Diana retired from an administrative position to pursue her love for art. Self-taught and after many painting/pastel workshops with well-known instructors, she discovered her own pathway to expression in pastels and developed her own signature style with strikingly realistic results. Diana's paintings focus on movement with various sky/cloud formations, rhythm of the sea in its many forms, and marine life, all evident of her unconscious attraction to blue.
(source: dianacoidan.com)

Diana’s work can be found on her website and at Bev's Fine Art, Raleigh, Cary Gallery of Artists, Cary, and Mattie King Davis Art Gallery in Beaufort, NC.

Website: www.dianacoidan.com

Diana's artist & resource recommendations:
Sally Strand - sallystrand.com
Bob Rankin - www.bobrankin.com

Diana's Beginning Pastelsworkshop January 2023 @ Bev's Fine Art

An oil and watercolor painter, art workshop instructor, architectural illustrator, life time ardent reader, and writer of the occasion when painting is not sufficient to express his feeling and thoughts...

JJ’s childhood was spent in China during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). During that era of madness, drawing, writing and reading poetry kept him safe and sane, and shielded him from the chaotic world outside. Drawing and painting have become inseparable parts of JJ’s life. They came to him naturally (and early) and have helped shape his view of the world and himself to a large degree.

JJ was trained as an architect and architectural historian with professional degrees from both the US and China. He practiced architecture as well as taught architectural design and history.. As a fine artist, JJ draws his inspiration from both his eastern and western cultural roots, as well as his inquisitive mind and inner poetry. He excels in drawing, watercolor and oil painting, while exploring subjects such as: still life, landscape/cityscape, portrait and figure, Chinese calligraphy and brush painting. His work has been widely exhibited, and collected and has won numerous awards. It has been featured in publications such as Watercolor Artist Magazine, SPLASH 21, The Art of Watercolour magazine, and Southwest Art Magazine.
(source: www.jjjiang.com)

You can JJ's work on his website and follow him on Facebook & Instagram. To see his work in person please visit the Village Art Circle in lovely downtown Cary, NC.

Website: www.jjjiang.com

Facebook: @jj.jiang.35
Instagram: @jj.jiang.art

JJ's artist & resource recommendations:
Andrew Wyeth - andrewwyeth.com
JJ's Blog Post - "Girl in a Red Scarf"

An oil and watercolor painter, art workshop instructor, architectural illustrator, life time ardent reader, and writer of the occasion when painting is not sufficient to express his feeling and thoughts...

JJ’s childhood was spent in China during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). During that era of madness, drawing, writing and reading poetry kept him safe and sane, and shielded him from the chaotic world outside. Drawing and painting have become inseparable parts of JJ’s life. They came to him naturally (and early) and have helped shape his view of the world and himself to a large degree.

JJ was trained as an architect and architectural historian with professional degrees from both the US and China. He practiced architecture as well as taught architectural design and history.. As a fine artist, JJ draws his inspiration from both his eastern and western cultural roots, as well as his inquisitive mind and inner poetry. He excels in drawing, watercolor and oil painting, while exploring subjects such as: still life, landscape/cityscape, portrait and figure, Chinese calligraphy and brush painting. His work has been widely exhibited, and collected and has won numerous awards. It has been featured in publications such as Watercolor Artist Magazine, SPLASH 21, The Art of Watercolour magazine, and Southwest Art Magazine.
(source: www.jjjiang.com)

You can JJ's work on his website and follow him on Facebook & Instagram. To see his work in person please visit the Village Art Circle in lovely downtown Cary, NC.

Website: www.jjjiang.com

Facebook: @jj.jiang.35
Instagram: @jj.jiang.art

JJ's artist & resource recommendations:
Andrew Wyeth - andrewwyeth.com
JJ's Blog Post - "Girl in a Red Scarf"