Diving In

Celebration of Fine Art gives visitors the chance to talk with and explore the studios of more than 100 artists

The Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been putting contemporary artists center stage for more than 30 years. Held in the iconic big white tents on the southwest corner of Hayden Road and the Loop 101, the more than two-month event features 40,000 square feet of working studios for 100 esteemed and emerging artists from across the country. Visitors can dive into this incredible menagerie of artworks, all the while speaking with the artists directly about their working processes, stories and inspirations. During the event attendees may also catch the artists in action working on new pieces—everyone from painters, sculptors and photographers, to jewelry, fiber and glass artists.Judith Dickinson, Mine Eyes Have Seen, oil, 40 x 30"

Heidi Rosner, After the Rains, watercolor on board, 17 x 10"

The event, of course, has dozens upon dozens of top artists exhibiting out of their makeshift studios in the Arizona desert. Among these artists are Leah Kiser, who paints whimsical, surreal subjects, often animals, and often with a touch of humor, and Judith Dickinson, who paints figures, portraits, wildlife, Western works and more.Heidi Rosner, Rosie, watercolor on canvas, 12 x 16"

Leah Kiser, Hooker’s Dream, oil on canvas, 40 x 30"

Heidi Rosner, who has been painting for 30 years and works exclusively in watercolor, has continuously pushed the medium forward. “[Watercolor] can be unforgiving, requiring a certain amount of forethought and planning while allowing for the flexibility and organic movement that occurs with pigment in water. It requires both discipline and patience, and an acceptance that it cannot be controlled. My favorite part of painting in watercolor is to let the pigment move and flow. That is where the magic happens,” she says. “I’ve taken the last two years as a time of deep introspection about my work. In particular, I’ve thought about the emotions and ‘ahh’ reactions that I’d like my work to evoke for collectors. As a result, I’m employing even more colors in my palette, challenging myself on composition, and exploring new ways to look at my subject matter.” Heidi Rosner, Taking Flight, watercolor on canvas, 24 x 36"Rosner’s watercolors often depict the minutiae of desert life—such as a perfect cactus flower or a hummingbird hovering—to give the viewer a permanent vision of what would otherwise be a fleeting moment.A view of some of the artists’ booths at a past Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Celebration of Fine Art gives visitors the chance to explore booths each year.The 2022 edition of Celebration of Fine Art takes place January 15 to March 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For the duration of the event, guests can also take part in the Art Discovery Series each Friday from 4 to 5 p.m., where they will hear the stories, techniques and inspiration behind the creation of art, as well as enjoy wine, cheese and in-depth panel discussions and demonstrations with the artists. These discussions and demos touch on subjects like nature as it relates to art, capturing the allure of the human form, techniques of working with glass, building strong composition and more. —

Celebration of Fine Art
When: January 15-March 27, 2022, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Where: 18400 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Information: (480) 443-7695, www.celebrateart.com