LITTLE ROCK — Various artists, including several from the River Valley & Ozark Edition coverage area, gathered July 8 for the opening reception and awards ceremony for the seventh annual Arkansas League of Artists Juried Exhibition at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Although Conway artist Sandy Kraft was on vacation in Florida when the awards were announced, she later learned she had won an award.
“I was excited to learn I won first place in land/city/seascape category,” she said.
Kraft won the award and $300 with an acrylic painting she titled Cruisin’.
“Crusin’ is a painting from a picture I took at the corner of President Clinton Avenue and Cumberland Street in the Little Rock River Market [District],” she said. “I have painted the River Market area several times because I like the area.”
Kraft grew up in Clifton, Texas, and moved to Conway to study business and art at the University of Central Arkansas. She said she has always loved art and finds herself inspired by the masters, preferring to use an impressionistic, contemporary style.
“Although acrylics are my favorite medium, I love to experiment with other mediums and techniques,” she said. “I especially enjoy painting the architectural, urban scenes and try to capture the energy and atmospheric colors of rainy cities at night.”
Kraft is a past president of the Arkansas League of Artists and a signature member of the organization. Signature Membership is achieved with the acceptance into at least two juried art exhibitions held for ALA members.
Patrick Edwards of Maumelle was also unable to attend the awards ceremony. He received $200 and a second-place award in the still life/floral category with Borough Market Tomatos.
“I’ve always loved and appreciated art, making it a point to attend museums whenever I’m on vacation. The old masters would leave me in awe with their use of color and light. I’d wonder, ‘How did they do that?’” Edwards said.
“Anyway, when I hit my 49th birthday, I decided there was really nothing to lose with giving it a try myself; that was two years ago. My mother-in-law was an art teacher, and one of my nieces is studying to become one. They give me encouragement and plenty of tips. The local Arkansas League of Artist meetings are also a great place to learn, since various artists kindly share demos on a monthly basis,” he said.
“I know I’ll never produce anything like the masters did, but in this world full of chaos and trouble, my only goal is to produce something pretty — something to make people smile,” he said.
“I almost didn’t enter the ALA juried show, being a newbie with little or no chance to be accepted. I was just hoping to receive some constructive feedback from the juror,” Edwards said.
“Needless to say I was ecstatic to be accepted and completely blown away by placing in the still life/floral category,” he said. “Borough Market Tomatos is a painting of a London food market that my wife, Robyn, and I visited last year.
“If you think it’s pretty or if it makes you smile, then I’m happy. If not, I’m working on a sunflower painting that may do the trick.”
Edwards is a native of White Hall and has lived in central Arkansas since 1986.
Penny Rubow of Conway did attend the awards ceremony, where she accepted an honorable mention award in the abstract/modern category for her acrylic painting Spire.
Rubow said the painting is definitely an abstract.
“I was inspired by James [Abbott McNeill] Whistler. … You know, he’s best known for painting Whistler’s Mother (correctly titled Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1).
“Whistler is … credited with painting the first abstract,” she said.
“My painting is dark,” Rubow said. “It looks like embers falling from the sky. I used gold foil … and just went over and over it with paint … glazing it.
“It’s a personal favorite piece, and it is inspired by Whistler.”
Rubow is a signature member of the Arkansas League of Artists. She is also a member of the Conway League of Artists.
Several other local artists also have works in the ALA exhibit:
• Suzanne Brugner of Heber Springs, with an acrylic painting she calls Outlander;
• Charlotte Rierson of Fairfield Bay, with a watercolor titled Beckoning;
• Robert Rubow of Conway, with a mixed-media piece called Hiroshima;
• Mary Ann Stafford of Maumelle, with an acrylic painting titled From the West; and
• Coe Wilson of Morrilton, with an oil painting titled Heartsong.
The Arkansas League of Artists is a statewide organization with membership open to all visual fine artists, art enthusiasts and supporters of the Arkansas artistic community. Members must be an Arkansas resident and at least 13 years old.
The group meets at 7 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month, except for November and December, at the North Little Rock Community Center, 2700 Willow St. in North Little Rock. The group’s next meeting will be Aug. 30.
For more information on the ALA, visit www.arkansasleagueofartists.org or ALA’s Facebook page.
The Arkansas League of Artists’ juried exhibit will remain on display through
Oct. 1 at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, 401 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (501) 320-5790 or visit www.butlercenter.org.