15th Annual Boston International Fine Art Show: what a show. . .

It was a pleasure to step out impromptu into Boston to see the 15th Annual Boston International Fine Art Show on Saturday and it reminded me of how lucky I am to have such a great city at my fingertips. The show was held in the South End at the Boston Center for the Arts' Cyclorama building. Seeing world-class art with few hastles (no problems finding walkable parking on Tremont St) was extremely rewarding. I took photographs a bit in haste. It's also worth noting how impressive the range of works were in price, size, era and style. There really was something for almost everyone.

This year there were 42 booths and I enjoyed seeing the full range of works, but my favorites were from the 19th-20th century including a drawing by John Singer Sargent, an unusual pastel by Mary Cassatt and landscape paintings by John Henry Twachtman. In addition I enjoyed seeing a presidential JFK drawing (study) by Aaron Shikler at one booth with an Andy Warhol portrait (screenprint, I believe) of Senator Ted Kennedy directly in sight at a different booth. I also enjoyed seeing a self portrait by Dennis Miller Bunker (who's work I always look at somewhat wistfully as he was a great talent and died young when he was newly into a very happy marriage) and a portait by Joseph DeCamp. I was also very pleased to see several lovely drawings by Lilian Westcott Hale (no relation.)

I came home with a bag full of art magazines and brochures (gold), including a gorgeous new premier issue of "American Fine Art." I highly recommend art lovers and buyers to check this superb show out in the future.

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Mary Brewster Hazelton 1868-1953, a Wellesley-born artist who studied with Edmund Charles Tarbell and Abroad

Last night I attended a very exciting lecture held at the Wellesley Free Library. Laura Ziman, an art instructor, brought four of Mary Brewster Hazelton's works, including a portrait and three landscapes which were very Impressionistic in style and discussed her life briefly. To be honest there are more questions than answers about this intriguing artist, but the attendees were able to provide some salient bits of information too. Her studies originated with the conservative Boston School style (Tarbell), but she came to experiment with the Impressionistic movement, as she studied abroad during an exciting time, when photography was born, so ultra realistic works were not as in vogue.

I will provide a follow-up blog entry when I learn more and have a bit more time. I believe Mary Brewster Hazelton may have been on the same tier as Cecilia Beaux and Mary Cassatt, two other prominent female artists from the same time period who also choose not to marry in order to pursue life-long painting. I will venture to say John Singer Sargent might have agreed, as he is said to have held Ms. Hazelton's work in high esteem.

Ms. Hazelton's works are in the collections of Harvard University, the Massachusetts State House and the Peabody Essex Museum.

I love that Ms. Hazelton painted landscapes, still lives and portraits. She was the true, full artist recording her Impressions of the world throughout her life.


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

John Singer Sargent's Lady Agnew of Lochnaw— my master copy

John Singer Sargent painted Lady Agnew in 1892. It is considered to be one of his finest paintings. I painted my cropped copy of his work this year. Many have commented about how closely my reproduction matches the original.

14 x 18 unframed


www.soniahale.com

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Master Art Teachers

Today my hat is off to teachers who give so much of their time, energy and knowledge; while at times juggling important commissions schedules around class schedules.

Master Artists I have studied with: Constance Flavell Pratt (Copley Society, Master Artist in pastel), Bob Cormier (Boston School trained artist, we painted beautifully dressed models in natural light), Michael Shane Neal (wonderful workshop in advanced oil painting) and Everett Raymond Kinstler (workshops by 2nd generation student of John Singer Sargent; ERK a famed, beloved artist of 6 U.S. Presidents). These teachers are the ones who have had the most impact on my work and my inner constitution.

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com.

Artistic Inspiration and Teachers

Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past . . .
all time is eternally present.
T. S. Eliot

I thought I’d start by starting at the beginning—artistic inspiration and teachers. Many of today’s portrait artists speak reverently of John Singer Sargent. He was one of the first artists I came to know and love as I took in the Boston Museum of Fine Art’s collections as a child. I adored “The Daughters of Boit,” a painting which is a brilliant work. If you study the painting closely you'll notice the intriguing abstact qualites in the background.

Once I became enamored with portraiture, I was delighted to meet and watch Everett Raymond Kinstler—the renowned painter of 6 presidents, countless cabinet members, college dignitaries and luminaries—paint in 1999 at the Copley Society in Boston. His lush skin tones appeared to turn seamlessly and he captivated us with his stories and finesse. Mr. Kinstler is a gifted storyteller and speaker, and as John Silber, the former president of Boston University said, “If you put duct tape over Ray’s mouth, he cannot paint.” He tried to make it clear that his demonstrations are like a stunt and that many hours are required to create a finished work. We all had a had time believing him as he began painting.

I later learned that Mr. Kinstler is a second generation student of JSS. He also masterfully creates with reality and abstraction in breathtaking strokes. His portraits/figures are always sculptural and feel weighted. Please see www.everettraymondkinstler.com. Since that time I have been able to take more workshops with Ray and obtain his advice on most of the portraits I have painted from the earliest ones to my most recent. I carried a large pastel triple-portrait commission into the Copley Society in Boston one year, to get insight into my work. Ray has displayed vast generosity to many of us seeking to be better artists.

His protégé, Michael Shane Neal is also a master. I was lucky to attend a workshop with Shane a few years back. His work can be seen at www.michaelshaneneal.com. Shane demonstrated from life; painted an ears, eyes and nose sample and began one commission. Shane was so kind and pleasant throughout the week, giving of his enormous talent, insight and time while also providing such extremely entertaining stories our stomachs hurt from laughing.

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com.