This is your monthly newsletter published by the Plano Art Association. The goal of this newsletter is to provide meaningful information to PAA members and members of the community
about current and upcoming PAA activities.
News, Announcements and Updates
 Members are encouraged to become contributors to these newsletters.  Let us know when you have news or features you would like to see published here. Click to email suggestions .

Hollan Holmes accepts Best-of-Show Award at 125 Show from Vice President, Linda McCarle y.
Best-of-Show 125 winner
to make presentation at August Member's Meetin
g.

Hollan Holmes will share his insights and the techniques he employs to create his award-winning art at our August Member's Meeting, Tuesday, August 29. The meeting will be at the ArtCentre of Plano beginning with Art Share setup at 6:30 p.m.

Hollan became a full-time landscape painter very recently, only in October of 2016. That is also when he began painting en plein air.
 
He studied drawing and painting from 1981 until 1984, under the tutelage of Richard Hlad and Professor Arnold Leondar at Tarrant Count Junior College. He left college before getting a degree to work for American Airlines for the next nineteen years. Art was little more than a hobby during this time which is perhaps the greatest regret of his life.
 
He then taught himself to master 3D modeling and surfacing for film and animation, after which the preparation afforded opportunity and landed him a job at Reel FX Creative Studios in 2003.
 
He spent thirteen years as Seni or Surfacing Artist at Reel FX Creative Studios, Dallas, creating film and commercials for such clients as Sony, McDonalds, Pepsi, Dreamworks, Hasbro, Warner Brothers and many more. 
 
Clearly, the detail rendering skills required for being a "surfacing artist" was great prep for the fine art he now produces, such as his winning entry in the 125 Show 2017. Hollan and his wife live in Euless, Texas.
 
You can participate in Art Share at this meeting 
Bring a couple of pieces of your work by 6:30 to set up to show to your fellow artists. After the business meeting and during a break before the guest presentation, you will have the informal opportunity to discuss your work and get feedback that can help you gain insight into how others view your work. And, there are some other major opportunities from sharing your art: ballots will be passed around and the work of one artist will be selected as "PAA Artist of the Month." Rewards will include a gift certificate from Asel Art Supply, plus the artwork will be exhibited at PAA headquarters at Rail Station Studios and Gallery for an entire month.   

PAA'S DOWNTOWN
MURAL PROJECT UPDATE


One down and two to go!
The first of the three murals is now complete. It can be seen at the vivid display of bright color on the side of Georgia's Farmers Market when you approach Downtown Plano on 15th Street. Local mural artist Will Heron spent three weeks of blistering summer heat to complete this remarkable work of art.
 
Pictured here are Soheyla Rashidyan, Mike Korman and Gene Dillard who serve on the PAA mural team along with Alex Hargis of HDPA and Joshua King, project administrator.
Next up is the large historical depiction mural on the West wall of the Vickery Park building facing the DART station and tracks on 15th Place. See the rough sketch below. If you get a chance, drop by and see the mural in progress. If you would like to volunteer to assist, let us know. Artist Wes Harding predicts a three-week completion by late September. 


Preliminary sketch by Wes Hardin, mural artist selected by PAA
and Downtown Mural Committee.

125 Show 2017 in Review


The 125 Show 2017 was a resounding success. According to Susy Jones, director or the ArtCenter of Plano, the hundreds of visitors who viewed the exhibit gave it great rave reviews. The reception on August 5 was enjoyed by more than 200 people. The event was smoothly executed with the wonderful assistance of numerous PAA volunteers and the staff of the ArtCentre of Plano.
 
All the winners were published in a beautiful 8-page book, designed by Ruth Siddiqi. A few remain if you would like one.

Many things were learned about creating and executing such an event that will guide us toward an even better show next year. 


UPCOMING
PLANO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL  
EXHIBIT AT THE GALLERY @ COURTYARD


The exhibit will be held at The Gallery @ Courtyard featuring
2D artworks that reflect the universal language of art. It is part of the 2017 Plano International Festival. More than 20,000 people are forecasted to attend the Festival. This show is a special opportunity for members of Plano Art Association. Because the theme is very broad, subject matter of your artwork
is not limited to multi-cultural content.
 
SAVE THE DATES 
The exhibit will be September 19 through October 23, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Gallery @ Courtyard
  9/18 - Monday, Artist Drop-off from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  9/19 - Tuesday, Show will be hung from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  
  9/28 - Thursday, Reception - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
10/14 - Saturday, Plano International Festival - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
10/23 - Monday, Artist Pick-up from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

PARTICIPATION
* Members of Plano Art Association
* Plano-area artists
* Artists may submit up to three pieces of art. Acceptance will be based on number of total submissions and space available for exhibiting, on a first-come first-serve basis. Artists will be notified of the pieces that can be exhibited. Exhibit space is limited to approximately 60 pieces.  

AWARD
A Peoples' Choice Award will be presented at the end of the reception. All attendees will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite artwork.
 
ENTRY FEES
MEMBERS
         Members may enter up to three pieces for a total fee of $10
NON-MEMBERS
         Non-members may enter up to three pieces for a fee of
          $20 for each piece entered.
OR  
New members joining (for the first time) on this occasion may enter up to three pieces at no cost. Memberships range from $30 to $90. To join now, go to http://planoartassociation.org/join

 
The Gallery @ Courtyard
Watch your email inbox for the
Call for Entries
coming shortly.


PAA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

John Van Ness

John Van Ness is a longtime member of PAA a nd has been very active in our exhibits and association activities. Following is an interview with him along with several of his beautiful works of art. 
 
How do you describe the art that you prefer to create?
My paintings are about the creative intellectual field of painting. I investigate the nature of art via abstract or semi-abstract paintings based on scenes from nature.
 
What drives you to create this kind of art?
Reef with Octopus, Crabs and Squid: Acrylic and ink on canvas, H22, W28

I have always had an interest in art, but my career was as an academic mathematician whose research involved a lot of geometry. I like to study painting by creating hard-edged renderings that mix geometric forms and organic forms that employ bold composition.
 
How long have you been painting your current style? 
Since 1999.
 
What famous noted historical artist do you most admire? 
Mother Lode III:  
Acrylic and ink oncanvas,  H36, W30
Most of my inspiration come from Picasso, Kupka, Cezanne, ClyffordStill, and Raymond Saa.
 
What noted living artist do you most admire? 
Raymond Saa and Judy Pfaff.
 
What goal you are pursuing in your art? 
I am trying to better understand what it is that makes a painting "work" and how to integrate organic and geometric forms in a painting.
 
Mountains at l'Estaque After Cezanne:  Acrylic and ink on canvas,   H24, W30
 
How do you think Plano Art Association benefits artists and the Plano community? 
Artists tend to work alone and be rather isolated. The PAA provides valuable opportunities for artists to interact and share ideas with each other and the general public.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DATES


August Member's Meeting 
August 29 - 7:00 p.m. at the ArtCentre of Plano

International Festival PAA Exhibi t
(Multicultural Exhibit) 
September 19 - October 23 at The Gallery @ Courtyard   

PAA Plein Air Event in the park and Downtown Plano
(February 2018...details to follow. Will be held in collaboration with Outdoor Painters Society, Southwest Watercolor Society and the ArtCentre of Plano)

Artists' Studio Tour
(To be announced, possibly in early November)
 
PAA Members Show 
(Tentatively scheduled for January 2018)    

PAA Fundraising Event
s
 
(To be announced)

    
PRESIDENT'S NOTE 

Thanks for helping out.

     We have had an excellent response to our plea for volunteers. All who stepped up to help with the 125 Show made all the difference in its success.
However, we continue to strive to populate other teams and co mmittees so that the work of PAA can always be executed at a high level.
      One very specific assist we need is someone who is willing to work with our marketing team to help monitor and collect articles and stories published about PAA by the press. This is an important part of our need to validate community exposure for our annual grant reports. It will take only a few hours per month. It will be helpful if more than one person volunteers for this assistance.    
     Please contact us at  and let up know if you would like to assist in this role, or another. Contact Linda McCarley at vicepresident@planoartassociation.org 

MISSION STATEMENT: The Plano Art Association is dedicated to encouraging the visual arts development of the membership, and inspiring awareness of the visual arts by sharing the joy, passion and beauty within and beyond our Plano community.
 

PAA is sponsored in part with a grant from the City of Plano. 
For m
ore information on wonderful things to do in the City, go to www.plano.gov    

Plano Art Association