by houstonwine | Aug 14, 2021 | Art News
I was interviewed on Instagram Live last week by Kristina Parro, author of the novel “Lucky”. Kristina’s novel is based on the life of the controversial millionaire and socialite, Rebekah Harkness. Harkness also happens to have been the subject of my...
by houstonwine | Jul 16, 2021 | Paintings, People, Uncategorized
I recently finished a commission portrait of the Reverend Samuel Parris. He was the Puritan minister in Salem Village, Massachusetts. His daughter and niece were the first girls who began to act strangely and claimed to have been possessed by witches. Parris, in many...
by houstonwine | Jun 10, 2021 | Paintings, People
My latest oil painting. “A Marvelous Time” was inspired by the lyrics in Taylor Swift’s song, “The Last Great American Dynasty”. Her song tells the tale of the eccentric millionaire socialite, Rebekah Harkness who “had a marvelous time ruining everything.”...
by houstonwine | Sep 4, 2020 | Paintings, People
Supper at Ursula, by Mary LaGarde, oil on canvas, 60″ x 48″ I believe that art should tell a story and it should elicit an emotional response in the viewer. I was shocked by our government’s decision to separate families at the border and to house...
by houstonwine | Jun 3, 2019 | Art News
MARY LAGARDE STUDIO & GALLERY OPEN HOUSE Free tour of studio and gallery of award-winning Naples artist Mary LaGarde. Learn about the 16th Century Venetian Method of painting used by Mary and visit surrounding galleries as part of the Art Alive! event in the...
by houstonwine | Jun 1, 2019 | Art News
Alejandro Viles, the international art critic, visited my studio last week. Here is a video of his comments about representational art versus abstract art: https://youtu.be/QQs6tpfk46M Share...
by houstonwine | Apr 21, 2019 | People
I dedicated this self-portrait to Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656). Gentileschi was the first woman to enroll at the Art Academy in Florence (Accademia di Arte del Disegno). Gentileschi was heavily influenced by the techniques of Caravaggio. ...
by houstonwine | Mar 27, 2019 | Art Workshops
I am attending a seven week sculpture workshop taught by Naples sculptor Brett F. Harvey. Brett and his wife, artist Lauren Redding, are the owners of H&R Studio. They recently relocated to Naples from New York. Brett is an amazing sculptor...
by houstonwine | Mar 17, 2019 | Art News
Naples artist Mary LaGarde celebrated the grand opening of her studio and gallery in the Naples Art District on Saturday, March 16th. The solo exhibition in her gallery was entitled The Four Seasons. It featured large and small scale oil paintings of an...
by houstonwine | Mar 7, 2019 | Art News
Naples artist Mary LaGarde climbed the slopes of Echo Mountain in Colorado to find an old stand of aspen trees. She painted a series of oil paintings to capture the character of the trees she found there. Her paintings reflect the changing appearance of...
by houstonwine | Dec 8, 2018 | Art News
I met Florida artist Irv Rudley a few weeks ago at the Figurative Art Convention and Expo (FACE 2018). Irv suggested that we photograph one another and paint portraits to be exchanged in the future. Today Irv drove to Naples to deliver the portraits he...
by houstonwine | Nov 26, 2018 | People
I met the world’s most interesting man at the recent Figurative Art Convention & Expo in Coral Gables, Florida. Irv Rudley is a man of many careers and accomplishments. He has been a gymnast, a B25 bomber mechanic in the Korean war, a...
by houstonwine | Nov 9, 2018 | Art News
FACE provides a tremendous opportunity for figurative artists to connect with fellow artists, learn new art techniques, and receive tips on how to market their art. There are typically at least three lectures or demonstrations going on at the same time from 8:30...
by houstonwine | Nov 9, 2018 | Art News
I am attending the FACE 2018 convention at the historic Biltmore hotel in Coral Gables, Florida this week. Attendees include figurative artists from all over the United States, Europe, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. The opening presentation was...
by houstonwine | Oct 21, 2018 | Seascapes
I based this painting on a photograph taken at Battery Park by my friend, Professor Robert Hockett, from Cornell Law School in New York. He is not only a student of law, philosophy, politics, and finance, he also has an eye for dramatic photography. The painting...
by houstonwine | Sep 14, 2018 | Art News
I have tried everything to organize my brushes. I’ve used jars, plastic bins, and even a wooden box with holes drilled into the top. None of those were acceptable solutions. Finally, my husband and I found a way I can organize my brushes...
by houstonwine | Aug 25, 2018 | Uncategorized
I love Canada. How could you not love a country that infuses its currency with the aroma of maple syrup? It’s true. It smells like pancakes and syrup, The people here are generally very polite and kind to one another. I saw a Chinese...
by houstonwine | Aug 24, 2018 | Art Workshops
Today was the last day of our Caravaggio workshop. Our instructor, Fernando Freitas, gave us a tour of the studios at the Academy of Realist Art. He explained that drawing skills are the foundation of great art, including painting and sculpture. One...
by houstonwine | Aug 24, 2018 | Uncategorized
Toronto sits on the banks of Lake Ontario. Just south of the city are a series of islands where the locals go to hang out and enjoy nature. A ferry runs between downtown and the islands but families and kids often prefer to rent kayaks and large canoes to...
by houstonwine | Aug 24, 2018 | Uncategorized
Toronto is an amazing city. It is the financial center of Canada. It has over 140 recognized neighborhoods like Greek Town, Chinatown, and Kensington Market. English is the most spoken language followed by Cantonese and then Mandarin. French is...
