The beauty and history of Texas sparks continuous inspiration for artists, both past and present. The state is divided into four major geographic regions, each offering a unique experience of the great outdoors—the Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and the Permian Basin and Range Province.
The Austin skyline at night. Photo by Carlos Alfonso.
In addition, the Lone Star State is chock full of vibrant cities across its expansive borders. A robust arts scene thrives in the state capital of Austin, from visual arts to eclectic food, drink and music. Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” the city boasts 250 music venues. Be sure not to miss Sixth Street, a National Register historic district in Austin, with six blocks of turn-of-the-century Victorian commercial buildings. In Fort Worth, visitors will find the Museum of Modern Art Fort Worth, the oldest museum in the state, showcasing the work of historic, mid-career and emerging artists.
San Antonio is the home of the Alamo, the historic Spanish mission and iconic landmark holding 300 years of history within and without its walls. The city is also known for its robust cultural diversity, with influences of Mexican, Tejano, German, Irish cultures and more.
A dazzling nighttime glimpse of Dallas. Photo by Zack Brame.
Moving southeast, you'll find Houston. As the largest city in the state (and one of the most diverse demographics), Houston houses cultural epicenters like the Theatre and Museum Districts where you’ll find institutions like Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Heading north to Dallas, art lovers can dive into the Dallas Arts Fair,taking place April 10 to 13 in the bustling Dallas Arts District. The fair presents collectors, arts professionals and the public the opportunity to engage with a rich selection of modern and contemporary artworks presented by leading national and international galleries.
A mural celebrating the vibrant arts and entertainment district Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas. Photo by Corey Collins.
In addition to a multitude of events, galleries and institutions across Texas, many talented artists are also based in the state. Collectors can learn more about local artists and the galleries that represent them in the remainder of this special section dedicated to art in the Lone Star State.
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Art Gallery Prudencia
2518 N. Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 422-8681
prudence@prudenciagallery.com
www.prudenciagallery.com
Art Gallery Prudencia has a wide range of artworks in various media. Visitors will find both contemporary and traditional creations. The gallery focuses on collecting works by emerging, mid-career and established artists, most of whom are from Texas.
Top: Art Gallery Prudencia, Amaryllis and Crystal Pitcher, watercolor on paper, 30 x 22", by Soon Y. Warren; The interior of Art Gallery Prudencia. Bottom: Art Gallery Prudencia, Station #6, oil on panel, 12 x 24", by Shea Daniel-Youngblood.
The gallery features works by artists Andrea Almond, Joanna Burch, Lon Brauer, Cliff Cavin, Kim Collins, Shea Daniel-Youngblood, Vikki Fields, Margie Hildreth, Mary James, Billy L. Keen, Anna Lisa Leal, Tim McMeans, Sara McKethan, Barbara Rallo, Susan Riley, Pam and Ric Slocum, Steven G. Smith, Richard Sneary, Sheila Swanson, Irena Taylor and Soon Y. Warren.
Art Gallery Prudencia also hosts at least a half dozen shows each year. This April, Shea Daniel-Youngblood will be featured in an upcoming one-woman show, In the Neighborhood. The family of artists that make up Art Gallery Prudencia exemplifies the description of “a highly curated variety of visual delight.”
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Nancy J. Balmert
www.nancybalmert.com
Artist Nancy J. Balmert and her husband have traveled to a lot of interesting places, and she always brings her camera along. “I’m constantly on the lookout for photo ops. While I’m best known for painting still life and large flowers, creating scenes of the places I’ve been is such fun, and looking back on the memories is special. All of my landscape paintings are from photos I’ve taken, in places ranging from Old Faithful to the Cotswolds,” she says.
Nancy J. Balmert, Santorini 3, oil on canvas, 11 x 14"
The artist takes great pride in her craftsmanship, using the best oil paints available and custom making her own canvases. Balmert paints in the Old Master method, which employs soft edges and creates depth by making the scenes advance and recede. “I’ve painted breathtaking waves, crystal that sparkles, and delicate flowers that you can almost smell,” says Balmert.
Nancy J. Balmert, Venice Remembered, oil on canvas, 20 x 16"; Nancy J. Balmert, Santorini 1, oil on canvas, 11 x 14"
“When I sit down to paint, at my easel I get completely lost in the rich to subtle colors of paint and time seems to fly by; two hours will seem like 15 minutes. I get caught up in the details of a delicate flower or the reflections on the crystal that shine and sparkle. I will work on every fine detail and make sure that I get the walls of buildings straight by using a caliper and 001 and 002 size paint brushes, and then I will ever so gently soften the edges between the white walls of the buildings in Santorini. I will work diligently on the lily that is in the back of the group that has the brightest sunlight on it so it recedes back behind the lilies that are in front of it. I love creating paintings to look natural like in the garden of life.”
Balmert adds that she has a bit of what is known as “healing hands,” and she puts this energy and love into all of her paintings, so the paintings feel good when viewers are near them.
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Patsy Lindamood
(352) 339-2353
lindamood@lindamoodart.com
www.lindamoodart.com
A self-taught artist who came to art later in life, Patsy Lindamood finally discovered her authentic artistic voice working in graphite. Drawing directly onto a cradled Ampersand Claybord surface, she begins with a simple line drawing that serves as a contour map for the entire piece. Working from darkest dark to lightest light, she then applies various types of graphite, including water-soluble and powdered graphite, layer upon layer, building texture and depth, to tell a story.
Shuttered, graphite on cradled Claybord, 36 x 24"
“The underlying story of a work of art becomes more poignant and arresting when the visual language is reduced to lines, shapes and values. Absent the romance of color, working in shades of grey is like telling a short story versus writing a novel,” says Lindamood. “I strive for my graphite art to evoke both story and emotion, to resonate with recollection and recognition.”
Reflections of Times Past, graphite on cradled Claybord, 36 x 54"; Great Blue on the Bow, graphite on cradled Claybord, 36 x 30"
Her work is representational but not photorealistic. “The maker’s mark is evident in my work, but the overall impact is that of a painting more than a drawing,” says the artist. “My work is not about visual perfection. It is about visual perception.”
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Robin Williamson
rgwilliamson@comcast.net
www.robinwilliamsonfineart.com
As an oil painter, Robin Williamson is deeply drawn to the beauty and complexity of the human form. The artist seeks to capture not only the physical presence of the body but also the stories, emotions and capabilities that are expressed through it. Inspired by the masterful figurative artists of the 19th century, she strives for a highly refined, realistic style that celebrates both the elegance and strength of the human figure.
Robin Williamson, Beyond the Frame, oil, 14 x 11"; Robin Williamson, Satin and Fur, oil, 20 x 16"
Her subjects often engage with other forms of art, such as music and dance, where the body becomes a vehicle for creative expression. “I find endless inspiration in the grace, discipline and passion of artists in these fields, and through my paintings, I aim to explore the connections between the physical and the artistic,” says Williamson. “Through each piece, I hope to evoke a sense of timelessness and admiration for the human experience, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty, grace and complexity inherent in our shared existence.”
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Odilia Iaccarino
The Cotton Mill Arts & Design District
610 Elm Street, Suite 1420, McKinney, TX 75069
(214) 886-1450
odiliai@yahoo.com
www.odiliaiaccarinoart.com
In 17th-century Spain, noble-born females were transferred to the palace to serve the queen or her daughters. The most renowned Meninas are represented in Diego Velázquez’s work Las Meninas, which is named after them. These maids of honor have become iconic figures in Madrid. Today, they serve as genuine muses for numerous workshops and artists around the world. Mixed media artist Odilia Iaccarino’s trip to Madrid served as the impetus for her Meninasseries. The immense, life-sized menina sculptures that lined the city streets enthralled Iaccarino because of their significance and contribution to Spanish culture.
Odilia Iaccarino, Menina Masquerade, mixed media, 48 x 48"
The process for the works involves the merging of abstract and suggestive forms. Iaccarino created a silhouette of the modern menina figure and incorporated a variety of colors, references and textures into the canvas. This process led her to try new techniques using acrylics, oil pastels, graphite and oil-based mediums.
Odilia Iaccarino, Moonkissed, mixed media, 60 x 48"
“My vision for the Meninas series is to inspire young people to grow and expand beyond their current mindsets,” says the artist.
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Melinda Patrick
melindapatrickart@gmail.com
www.melindapatrick.com
Melinda Patrick’s art is often called “contemporary realism.” It’s her vision of the places she loves, such as beaches, colorful cityscapes, and more recently, landscapes, floral still lifes and old wooden boats. Bright colors are her signature, and acrylics are her medium of choice.
Melinda Patrick, Magazine Stroll, acrylic, 20 x 16"
Patrick is a native Houstonian but received her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She was mentored from an early age by her grandfather, a painter, photographer and graphic designer. When she was very young, he handed her a paintbrush and said “paint.” And she did—and never quit.
“I want to be the painter whose art my great-grandkids will find stuffed in the attic, and they sell it [and] make a fortune. Like on Antiques Roadshow,” she says. “Art should enhance your day; make it better and make you smile.”
Her studio is in the Texas Hill Country. She shows her work at Primal Gallery in Dripping Springs, Texas, as well as several online galleries, such as Saatchiart.com and Artfinder.com. —
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