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The Art of Conservation: A Collection
Beaches Energy Services is proud to announce the chosen entries from the Call to Artists issued last fall. Each issue of the 2012 Tidings newsletter will feature one of these images. Each artist's image depicted an aspect of what it means to live, work and play in our unique environment, with an awareness of conservation and community. We appreciate the efforts of all participants and invite you to enjoy their submissions here.
To see the images at a larger size, just click on any image in the lineup.
January
Heron on Bank #3
by Kurtis Loftus
Watercolor, 8 x 14
Image description:
The ICW as it runs along the west edge of Jacksonville Beach offers tranquil settings with abundant wild life. The large white herons typically roam the mud banks for food as the tide drops out. Stark white feathers against rich, dense foliage is always a treat for the eyes. This heron happened to be enjoying a perch atop a fallen tree that in itself reflects the natural sculptural beauty of the space.
Artist Bio:
Kurtis Loftus is the owner of The Kurtis Group, a Jacksonville Beach advertising agency. Kurtis has been a Beaches Chamber Board Member for 12 years and was recognized as the Beaches Chamber Small Business Leader in 2001 and 2009.Kurtis and his business donate talent and time to several nonprofit agencies. I grew up a"waterman" blessed from influences by a sea oat-lined Atlantic Ocean to my east and a marsh-filled Intracoastal Waterway to my west. Spending time along their "edges" challenged my perspective. Using water sports to escape the confines of land and immersing myself in these "edges" helped shape my art and words. Thirty-six years of surfing solidified a love for the ocean. In that time, I bought a boat to use for wake boarding in the Intracoastal. Through the sport, I realized the extraordinary beauty of our "ditch""first light on a golden sheet of glass alone with the wild life" late afternoon as the wind lies down and the sun tucks below the tree line. I fell in love with the space much like I had done years earlier with the ocean.The "Pablo Edges" experience is a personal journey that will continue to develop through writing and illustration. My goal is to share what "islanders" see every day and remind us how special our"edges" make life.
February
Pipe Dream
by Kelly Meagher
Acrylic, paint markers, 36"x24"
Image description:
This is a piece I was commissioned to do while living in Puerto Rico. I want the viewer to feel as if they are in the wave, hopefully to give non surfers an insight into the beauty of surfing and the environments you get to experience while surfing.
Artist Bio:
My entire life I have been an artist. From a very young age it was evident that I was a right brained, artsy lil gal. Since then I have graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design and have began traveling to further feed my craving for all things beautiful. I have been bouncing around for a few years now and I feel the beautiful tropical water I am so often surrounding myself with is one of my biggest inspirations. This fall I will be returning to Puerto Rico where I will be settling indefinitely to help further my art career! I hope you enjoy my artwork! Pura Vida!
March
Beach Access Eighth Avenue North Light
by Kurtis Loftus
Watercolor, 8 x 14
Image description:
Jacksonville Beach accesses are often marked by dune line fences. Throughout the year these wood/wire structures get battered by the wind and sand. The weathered forms make for distinctive features along our coastal edges. Eight avenue is my favorite spot for checking the ocean conditions and the late afternoon light can make for a special view.
Artist Bio:
Kurtis Loftus is the owner of The Kurtis Group, a Jacksonville Beach advertising agency. Kurtis has been a Beaches Chamber Board Member for 12 years and was recognized as the Beaches Chamber Small Business Leader in 2001 and 2009.Kurtis and his business donate talent and time to several nonprofit agencies. I grew up a"waterman" blessed from influences by a sea oat-lined Atlantic Ocean to my east and a marsh-filled Intracoastal Waterway to my west. Spending time along their "edges" challenged my perspective. Using water sports to escape the confines of land and immersing myself in these "edges" helped shape my art and words. Thirty-six years of surfing solidified a love for the ocean. In that time, I bought a boat to use for wake boarding in the Intracoastal. Through the sport, I realized the extraordinary beauty of our "ditch""first light on a golden sheet of glass alone with the wild life" late afternoon as the wind lies down and the sun tucks below the tree line. I fell in love with the space much like I had done years earlier with the ocean.The "Pablo Edges" experience is a personal journey that will continue to develop through writing and illustration. My goal is to share what "islanders" see every day and remind us how special our"edges" make life.
April
Summer Day at Jax Beach
by Beth Haizlip
Watercolor, 30 x 26
Image description:
Jacksonville Beach is full of life in the summer time! I love hanging out near the Coast guard station watching people enjoy the sun, playing in the ocean, building castles in the sand, fishing, surfing and kayaking. We are very fortunate to have a great beach that people have nourish with extra sand, kept clean, and trained lifeguards to watch after us. I wanted to capture the fun and relaxation that people enjoy at Jax Beach.
Artist Bio:
Beth Haizlip received a Bachelor of Art Degree from Florida Southern College and has been painting for over 30 years. She has participated in juried shows throughout Florida and has won several awards. Her paintings are in private collections in California, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Florida. She is known for her bold, vibrant impressionist style. Having her art work chosen for the Jacksonville Jazz poster for 2007 has been very exciting and a turning point for her career. Her work is at First Street Gallery- Neptune Beach, Village Gallery- Orange Park, Great Hang Ups - Fleming Island and Avondale Art works.
May
Mass Transportation Beaches Style
by Ellen Jones
Oil, 16x20
Image description:
Mass Transportation Beaches Style - The painting is a 16x20 oil on canvas. The image was painted from P-2603; a black & white archival photograph from the Beaches Museum and History Center. The photo was dark and faded, so as an artist, it was my challenge to combine reality with imagination to create the painting. I use the color RED in all my Historic paintings as it is the color of Love. It is through love that we experience the best in life, and those are the moments we cherish forever. In 1929, fifteen lifeguards and friends were enjoying a day riding on the "San Sailor" beach sailboard. It is a delightful way to show how much fun it can be to use mass transportation!
Artist Bio:
Ellen graduated with honors from East Stroudsburg University in PA majoring in Fine Arts and continues to take classes to improve her skills. . She paints with passion and bright colors to express the joy that is in her heart. Ellen has spent years giving back to the community by volunteering in schools, churches, shelters, prisons, mission trips, and youth activities.
She has received numerous commissions, been positioned in juried shows, exhibited in Churches and galleries and has donated her paintings to Charitable organizations. Because of her desire to share Sacred Artwork with others, she founded and directed the Shades of Grace Visual Arts Ministry for a period of seven years. Ellen produced, promoted, and encouraged fellow artist to participate in 48 scripturally themed gallery exhibits.
June
Wonderwood Road
by Russell Wilson
Oil on linen, 24 x 36
Image description:
The areas' marshes are such a source of quiet beauty. Whenever I'm in the marshes, time seems to slow down. At first it might seem a desolate expanse of grass, but gradually you become aware of all the life it harbors. The sounds of wind through the grass, the chatter of song and shore birds, and the quiet trickle of the constantly changing tide help ease me into an almost meditative state.
Artist Bio:
Russ Wilson has been earning a living with art his entire working career. Winning art shows as a youngster led to distinction as a pioneering airbrush artist in a Gulf Coast surf shop and then to a rewarding career as a nationally recognized illustrator and fine artist. His commercial work can be seen around the nation, and has been included in the awards annuals of the New York Society of Illustrators, Step by Step Graphics, Communication Arts, Print Magazine's Regional Design Annual, and others.
Working in oil and pastel, Wilson focuses special attention on the design and craftsmanship involved in creating a piece of artwork. His influences are many and varied, but he admits a fondness for American art from the first half of the twentieth century, especially the works of Ashcan School artists and Edward Hopper. Wilson's art strives for that same combination of realism and modernism found in their work. The sense of light and immediacy of the moment is something he tries to emphasize in his own images.
From his birth on California's Monterey Peninsula to his present studio on Florida's East Coast, Russ Wilson’s entire life has been spent around the water. His imagery naturally follows those things that have influenced him throughout his life. With a focus on the coastal south and its quiet beauty, Wilson's art celebrates the beauty of the commonplace.
July
Lifeguard Station
by Russell Wilson
Oil on Panel, 9 x 12
Image description:
I have always had a love for unusual structures, especially those with an art deco flair. The Red Cross Lifeguard Station in Jacksonville Beach has been a favorite of mine since moving to the area in the mid 80's. This painting was created on site in about 3 hours as part of a Plein Air painting event.I loved the Crispness of the Bright blue sky against the warm white stucco of the tower.
Artist Bio:
Russ Wilson has been earning a living with art his entire working career. Winning art shows as a youngster led to distinction as a pioneering airbrush artist in a Gulf Coast surf shop and then to a rewarding career as a nationally recognized illustrator and fine artist. His commercial work can be seen around the nation, and has been included in the awards annuals of the New York Society of Illustrators, Step by Step Graphics, Communication Arts, Print Magazine's Regional Design Annual, and others.
Working in oil and pastel, Wilson focuses special attention on the design and craftsmanship involved in creating a piece of artwork. His influences are many and varied, but he admits a fondness for American art from the first half of the twentieth century, especially the works of Ashcan School artists and Edward Hopper. Wilson's art strives for that same combination of realism and modernism found in their work. The sense of light and immediacy of the moment is something he tries to emphasize in his own images.
From his birth on California's Monterey Peninsula to his present studio on Florida's East Coast, Russ Wilson’s entire life has been spent around the water. His imagery naturally follows those things that have influenced him throughout his life. With a focus on the coastal south and its quiet beauty, Wilson's art celebrates the beauty of the commonplace.
August
Jacksonville Beach Pier
by Kurtis Loftus
Watercolor, 8 x 14
Image description:
Storm surf matched by the grey salt offer s an exhilarating beach experience. As waves crash through the concrete pier you get a sense of the fragile effort man sets against nature.
Artist Bio:
Kurtis Loftus is the owner of The Kurtis Group, a Jacksonville Beach advertising agency. Kurtis has been a Beaches Chamber Board Member for 12 years and was recognized as the Beaches Chamber Small Business Leader in 2001 and 2009.Kurtis and his business donate talent and time to several nonprofit agencies. I grew up a"waterman" blessed from influences by a sea oat-lined Atlantic Ocean to my east and a marsh-filled Intracoastal Waterway to my west. Spending time along their "edges" challenged my perspective. Using water sports to escape the confines of land and immersing myself in these "edges" helped shape my art and words. Thirty-six years of surfing solidified a love for the ocean. In that time, I bought a boat to use for wake boarding in the Intracoastal. Through the sport, I realized the extraordinary beauty of our "ditch""first light on a golden sheet of glass alone with the wild life" late afternoon as the wind lies down and the sun tucks below the tree line. I fell in love with the space much like I had done years earlier with the ocean.The "Pablo Edges" experience is a personal journey that will continue to develop through writing and illustration. My goal is to share what "islanders" see every day and remind us how special our"edges" make life.
September
Late Summer
by Russell Wilson
Oil on canvas, 37 x 18
Image description:
I love old cars, surfing, the beach, late afternoon, indian summers, quiet, empty roads. This painting has just about all those elements. I strive for an element of narrative in my work, so that the viewer has an opportunity to interact with the painting, to try and understand what is going on, or suggest a life beyond the edges of the painting.
Artist Bio:
Russ Wilson has been earning a living with art his entire working career. Winning art shows as a youngster led to distinction as a pioneering airbrush artist in a Gulf Coast surf shop and then to a rewarding career as a nationally recognized illustrator and fine artist. His commercial work can be seen around the nation, and has been included in the awards annuals of the New York Society of Illustrators, Step by Step Graphics, Communication Arts, Print Magazine's Regional Design Annual, and others.
Working in oil and pastel, Wilson focuses special attention on the design and craftsmanship involved in creating a piece of artwork. His influences are many and varied, but he admits a fondness for American art from the first half of the twentieth century, especially the works of Ashcan School artists and Edward Hopper. Wilson's art strives for that same combination of realism and modernism found in their work. The sense of light and immediacy of the moment is something he tries to emphasize in his own images.
From his birth on California's Monterey Peninsula to his present studio on Florida's East Coast, Russ Wilson’s entire life has been spent around the water. His imagery naturally follows those things that have influenced him throughout his life. With a focus on the coastal south and its quiet beauty, Wilson's art celebrates the beauty of the commonplace.
October
Hannah Dunes
by Linda Olsen
Acrylic on canvas, 36x18"
Image description:
Hannah Dunes was painted plein air during a fundraiser for the North Florida Land Trust. I have always been amazed by how high the dunes are in Hannah Park.
Artist Bio:
As a long time beach resident, I have been involved in the community with art events, teaching painting to seniors, and with my donations to many conservation groups such as the ST. John's Riverkeeper and North Florida Land Trust. As an avid conservationist myself, I scooter instead of using my car, shop at local businesses whenever possible, kayak the beautiful rivers when I get the time. I am a professional photographer by trade and frequently am capturing the beauty of our region.
November
Mermaids Garden
by Rick Cannizzaro
Acrylic on artists board, 24"X48"
Image description:
"Mermaids Garden" is a colorful statement of how different forms of coastal water pollution is affecting the Manatees.
Artist Bio:
Rick Cannizzaro is a nationally recognized artist in several mediums, including oil pastels and acrylics. he was juried into the prestigious "oil Pastel Association in 1994. His portraits include civic leaders, members of Congress, and college presidents.Also his paintings have hung in many galleries and caught the attention of national publishers.In Rick's marine life paintings, his combination of vibrant colors and whimsical style has gained fans across the country.Ricks artistic abilities have in the past been commissioned to design TV studio production sets for PBS and the DIY networks. Rick dedicates his art creations to enhance the awareness of beauty and delicate balance of nature.
December
Transportation Beaches Style
by Ellen Jones
Oil, 24x36
Image description:
The painting is a 24x36 oil on canvas. The image was painted from P-1806, a black & white archival photograph from the Beaches Museum and History Center. Imagination brings the image to life as missing detail is artistically created. I use the color RED in all my Historic paintings as it is the color of Love. It is through love that we experience the best in life, and those are the moments we cherish forever. Walking is a fun and healthy way to get around the Jacksonville Beach area and here we have a joyful group from the 1920's doing just that! Iris Smith, Gertie Sebate, and Ellen Smith are some of the participants of this lively bunch. They are especially excited as they were liberated from the lengthy, heavy navy blue bathing suits of days gone by. The new rage was to wear the bright red suits designed by Jantzen, who still makes swim wear today.
Artist Bio:
Ellen graduated with honors from East Stroudsburg University in PA majoring in Fine Arts and continues to take classes to improve her skills. . She paints with passion and bright colors to express the joy that is in her heart. Ellen has spent years giving back to the community by volunteering in schools, churches, shelters, prisons, mission trips, and youth activities.
She has received numerous commissions, been positioned in juried shows, exhibited in Churches and galleries and has donated her paintings to Charitable organizations. Because of her desire to share Sacred Artwork with others, she founded and directed the Shades of Grace Visual Arts Ministry for a period of seven years. Ellen produced, promoted, and encouraged fellow artist to participate in 48 scripturally themed gallery.
