LAAL ArtShare features artist Sherry Ward and The Creative Process - November 3, 2009
Submitted by Andi Foster

Beach Boys

Professional artist Sherry Ward will present The Creative Process at the Lakes Area Arts League ArtShare meeting on Tues., Nov. 10, 2009 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the LAAL Art Center located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, Center, Texas.

“Expressing creative ideas provides a time for reflection and a renewing of the spirit,” said Ward. “When we embrace the creative process and all it encompasses from conception to completion, the journey is often more rewarding than the finished work of art.”

Sherry Ward, a native of East Texas, is a professional artist and gallery owner who maintains the Sherry Ward Fine Arts Studio and Art On Main Gallery at 407 East Main in historic downtown Nacogdoches. A lifetime of drawing and an intuitive use of color reflect the inspiration she finds in her local surroundings and her travels in the United State and abroad. Her artwork is epitomized by colorful transparent watercolors, mixed media paintings, collages, and sensitive portraits of people, flowers and animals in oil, watercolor, pastel and various drawing media.

Dovie

Ward conducts on-location workshops, presents lectures and painting demonstrations and serves as juror for art competitions. The Art On Main gallery showcases a display of eclectic and unique art. In the studio, she often presents workshops and exhibitions to highlight the talents of local and regional artists.

Ward’s award-winning works have been widely exhibited in regional and national exhibitions including Southwestern Watercolor Society and Dallas Visual Art Center, Dallas; Tri-State National, Beaumont, Texas; Longview Museum of Fine Arts, “Best of the Southwest”, Longview, Texas; Marshall Regional Arts Council All-Media, Marshall, Texas; Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale, Ark.; Hoover Watercolor Society, Shreveport, La.; 25th Annual River Road Show, Baton Rouge, La.; National Fine Art Exhibition, Boston, Mass.; National All Media, Denton, Texas; Outstanding East Texas Artists, Deen Galleries, Tyler, Texas; Scott & White’s Smith Art Gallery, Watercolor East Texas; and Nacogdoches Art League. Her paintings are represented in many collections throughout the United States and in Canada, England, France, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

Southern Charm

“For me, painting is a continual process of learning and sensitivity to the world around me,” Ward said. “I am profoundly influenced by the beauty in nature and the abundance of inspiration and challenge it provides. Creative expression, through drawing, painting and sharing is an essential part of my identity. Sharing the experience is a joy to me,” added Ward.

ArtShare was organized by the Lakes Area Arts League to encourage participation and create interest in the arts through presentations and demonstrations by artists exchanging ideas, networking and sharing creative talents and exploring various art techniques. ArtShare hosts monthly art demonstrations and presentations on second Tuesday evenings, September though May.

Details for participating in the ArtShare 2009-2010 program by giving an art demonstration or sharing your artistic talents can be obtained by contacting LAAL ArtShare Coordinators, Delbert Beckham, 936.598.7859 or Tresa Konderla, 936.590.9968.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

Super Saturday Series features Being Thankful for Arts & Crafts workshop for children ages 4 to 8 - October 28, 2009
Submitted by Andi Foster
Click here for enrollment form.

The November Super Saturday Series children’s art program features Being Thankful for Arts & Crafts workshop offering a variety of crafts with turkeys, leaves and more with instructor, Carrie Weeks, on Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Lakes Area Arts League Art Center located at 305 Nacogdoches Street.

Space is limited to 15 participants and advance registration deadline is Fri., Nov. 6, 2009. Workshop fees are $20 per student and include all art supplies.

One Super Saturday Series workshop remains for 2009 – Celebrating Christmas on Sat., Dec. 19 and the registration deadline is Fri., Dec. 11, 2009.

For workshop details, please contact Carrie Weeks at 936.572.0413 or 936.591.8943 or via email at carrie.weeks@yahoo.com.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

LAAL announces Extra Gallery Hours for Cogswell Art Exhibition - October 27, 2009

The Lakes Area Arts League announces additional gallery hours for the Ellen Cogswell Art Exhibition. The Cogswell Exhibition opens Sat., Nov. 7, 2009 at the Art Center, located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, with an artist reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reception and meet the artist, Ellen Cogswell. The exhibit will remain on display through Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.

Gallery hours include:

Sat., Nov., 7 -- 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 8 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 12 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Nov 13 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 14 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 15 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 19 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 20 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 21 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ellen Cogswell, professional artist, Lakes Area Arts League founding member, Nacogdoches Art League charter member and member with the Attoyac Writers’ Guild, will showcase original artwork at the November exhibit as well as other pieces depicting her unique techniques and creative style through expressions of landscapes, floral and abstracts themes. Selected artwork items will be available for purchase.

Details for the Cogswell exhibition can be obtained by contacting LAAL Exhibits Karen Thompson 936.590.0070 or Carolyn Lamb 936.590.2421.

The Lakes Area Art League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

The Lakes Area Arts League announces the Ellen Cogswell Art Exhibition at the LAAL Art Center, located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 with an opening reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reception and meet the artist, Ellen Cogswell. The exhibit will remain on display through Saturday, Nov. 21, 2008.

Ellen Cogswell, artist and LAAL founding member (right) accepts the Artist of the Year 2008-09 Award from Karen Thompson, LAAL President, at the annual membership meeting held March 2009.

Ellen Cogswell, professional artist, Lakes Area Arts League founding member, Nacogdoches Art League charter member and member with the Attoyac Writers’ Guild, will showcase original oil paintings and watercolors at the November exhibit as well as other pieces depicting her unique techniques and creative artwork expressions in landscapes, floral and abstracts themes. Selected artwork items will be available for purchase.

“I am excited about having the opportunity of sharing my past year’s work with art league and the public. I have enjoyed working in art for the past 40 years, both as a hobby and at a professional level,” says Cogswell. “For the past year, I have been recalling techniques I learned from many qualified artists in workshops, classes and things I tried on my own. Without the chance to show this to others is like talking to yourself.”

Cogswell adds, “I wish to dedicate this show in memory of one who urged me on when I had very little time to pursue it, Fleta Thomason. If I can encourage one person to carry on the struggle, they will be well rewarded in many ways.”

Ellen’s repertoire includes attending numerous workshops and receiving instruction through the years from various artists, such as Reese Kennedy, Doug Walton, Edgar Whitney, illustrator for MGM, Mark Weber with the Kansas City Museum and Louis G. Sicard, famed Shreveport and nationally recognized artist and fellow of the Royal Society of Art, Great Britain, and Elected Artist of the Year by the Shreveport Journal Cultural Awards (www.askart.com).

Over the years, Ellen’s art work has earned various awards from entries in juried art exhibitions, such as the Nacogdoches Art League, Lakes Area Arts League Membership Art Exhibitions and the annual Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Poultry Festival Art Show competitions. Ellen has given numerous art demonstrations and has volunteered in the past with the Center Independent School District’s ACE program where she instructed students in various art techniques. In addition, Ellen has completed several commissions for paintings of East Texas homesteads preserving the history of the old homes for her clients through her interpretive artwork.

Formerly a South Dakota native, Ellen resides in Joaquin with her husband, Nolen. Ellen continues to create original masterpieces at her art studio located at 10696 US Hwy 84 East, in Joaquin.

Gallery hours for the Cogswell exhibition include Sat., Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 15, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Sat., Nov. 21, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Details for the Cogswell ARTspace can be obtained by contacting LAAL Exhibits Karen Thompson 936.590.0070 or Carolyn Lamb 936.590.2421.

The Lakes Area Art League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.