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Artists from Saline County have work feature in state calendar |
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Monday, 12 January 2009 |
Local artists were honored Thursday at Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton for having their work featured in the 2009 Arkansas Artists Engagement Calendar.
Dee Graves, owner of All About Art Framing & Gallery, and Carol Anna Fullerton Sam-sel greeted visitors to sign calendars and discuss their artwork. Warren Criswell is the other Saline County artist who was featured.
Samsel’s work will be on display at the library through the end of the month.
Graves said it is “a great honor” to be selected for the calendar, which is made possible each year by the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Associa-tion. This is the second year for the competition.
Saline County is home to an artist who was featured in last year’s calendar. Annette Garner of Benton was at the reception Thursday in support of her fellow artists. She paints in Graves’ gallery, she said.
Any Arkansas artist may enter. This year, a panel selected 88 artists to be featured from a pool of more than 300 people.
Samsel said she enjoys painting views of nature using acrylic. She said she’s painted and been interested in producing art since she can remember, and likes depicting because in addition to a fine arts degree she also as a zookeeping degree.
She recently started painting portraits, noting she likes to change her style. “Every painting is a rewarding experience,” she said.
Graves said she uses the “drips and runs” technique for paintings using water colors.
In district competition, Garner said it is not uncommon for Graves’ students to win awards.
Featured artists attended a reception at the Governor’s Mansion in September.
Graves said she “really feels like this calendar can be a boost to the art careers of those featured as well as to general interest in Arkansas art.”
Calendars may be purchased online at www.friendsofthemansion.org and all proceeds benefit the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association.
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