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Tag: Island Gallery West

Art Walk returns to Holmes Beach

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Art is alive and well in Holmes Beach. Friday, Dec. 10 marked the return of the Art Walk, and not only were the city’s two galleries open late for the event, but many of the other businesses in the area were as well.

Participating businesses include the Artists’ Guild Gallery, The Feast, Restless Natives, Sun and Surf Beach Shop, Original Sand Dollar, The Scavenger Market and Island Gallery West.

“We got ice cream, some souvenirs and saw some great local art. I’m trying to justify spending $300 on a painting of a sea turtle,” said Allison Reynolds, of Detroit. “We just want something we can put in a prominent place in our home and think of Anna Maria Island every time we see it.” 

If you weren’t able to make it to this Art Walk, the next one is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 14, and the second Friday of each month thereafter.

Island Gallery West art walk returns

Island Gallery West art walk returns

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – After almost two years, Island Gallery West’s monthly art walk event returned on Nov. 12 to a large crowd of artists and art lovers ready to get back to a pre-COVID normal.

 Art lovers enjoyed a glass of wine as they relaxed in lawn chairs in the parking lot, tapping their feet and singing along to music performed by Chip Ragsdale. Inside, many of the 28 member artists were on hand to discuss their work with guests and socialize with other members.

Island Gallery West’s members seem more like a family when you speak to them. Even though they work in every kind of media, they all have one thing in common: A love for art. 

“We’re finally getting back after a couple of years of not having these. We didn’t really know what the success would be, but it’s been a great success,” said Darryl Goldman, a member artist at IGW who specializes in oil paintings. “People are coming in, they’re buying some art, they’re enjoying walking around, so we’re really happy with that.”

All 28 member artists are featured at the gallery at all times and works from all the artists are always available for purchase. Most artists also do commission works upon request. From a portrait of your pet to a painting of your favorite photograph, there is an artist that can make your project come to life at the very highest of skill levels. It’s as simple as finding the artist’s style you prefer, then telling them what you want. If they can make it happen, they will.

“This gallery is special because we have an amazing group of artists, I just love everybody here. We really try to keep high-quality art, we don’t want anything to be ‘crafty,’ ” member artist Janet Flickinger said. “I think we were really missing a lot of that personal interaction during COVID. To meet the people and talk to them makes the art more personable to them, and that’s really important.”

Any artist who is interested in becoming a member of Island Gallery West is welcome to apply. A committee of member artists reviews all applications and will decide the status of all applicants. While some artists have been members for years, others have only been with the gallery for a few weeks.

“I recently moved from Indiana to Florida as a permanent resident. I was a member of a co-op for 20 years in Indiana and it was a home environment. I just knew I needed to find another home like that,” said Dawn Gerardot, who at 12 days is the newest member of IGW. “It’s just like what I’m used to, there’s a high quality of art in here and it makes me feel comfortable.”

Island Gallery West is open every Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the gallery and its members, visit islandgallerywest.com.

Island Gallery West’s new featured artist inspired by wildlife

Island Gallery West’s featured artist inspired by wildlife

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West recently announced the artist of the month for November, and it’s not difficult to see what inspires Jody Goldman.

A retired flight attendant, Goldman was fortunate to get to travel the world and used her free time to observe the wildlife wherever she found herself. 

“The opportunity to travel and see the abundance of wildlife in such diverse nature settings in the countries I visited was the primary influence of my painting,” Goldman said. “It was then that I realized I wanted to concentrate my focus on being a wildlife artist.” 

The former Miami resident is now retired and lives on the Gulf coast of Florida, and for good reason. Goldman says she is inspired by the many birds in the area. In addition to Florida birds and wildlife, she also likes to paint the animals she observed on multiple trips to Africa. Her display at the gallery, titled “Walk on the Wild Side,” features African animals alongside local birds and marine life. In addition to painting with oil, she also works with colored pencils.

“I only want to paint wildlife, and that’s all I paint. I’m super realistic, I don’t do any abstract or impressionist,” Goldman said. “I paint animals from all over; buffalo from Wyoming, chickens from my family’s garden in Iowa and anything I observe in my travels.” 

Island Gallery West’s new featured artist inspired by wildlife BY JASON SCHAFFER
Island Gallery West’s November featured artist exhibit, ‘Walk on the Wild Side.’ – Jason Schaffer

Goldman may be retired, but she works on her art five to six hours a day, six days a week and has no plans on slowing down anytime soon. Art is her passion, and it shows in the quality of her work. She also loves to paint and draw dogs; in fact, she is happy to do a commission piece for your dog or dogs. Stop by Island Gallery West for plenty of examples of her work, and if you would like to order a commissioned work of art, you can view examples and place an order. For more information, email artistjodygoldman@gmail.com.

Each month, Island Gallery West chooses one of its 28 member artists to be the featured artist of the month. The artist chosen has a large display of their work in the front of the gallery for the entirety of the month they are featured, in addition to their permanent display in the gallery. All of the artist’s work is available for purchase.

Island Gallery West’s featured artist for November

Artist Jody Goldman featured in November

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West has 28 member artists from the Island and surrounding areas who choose one artist to be the featured artist of the month, with their work on a special display in the front of the gallery. The featured artist for November is Jody Clancy Goldman, and her exhibit is titled, “Walk on the Wild Side.”

Goldman’s first experiences as an artist developed when she was living in Miami and traveling around the world as a flight attendant. The opportunity to see the abundance of wildlife in such diverse environments in the many countries she visited was the primary influence of her painting. It was then that she realized her desire was to concentrate on being a wildlife artist. The diversity in nature is her one and only inspiration.

Goldman believes that being an artist is something one is born to do, and not necessarily learned only at school. She went on to study through practical experience, learning through trial and error, and by studying the works of artists she admires such as Robert Bateman and Carl Brenders.

Jody works primarily in oil, colored pencil and watercolor. Her studio is on the Gulf coast of Florida where she can study and paint exotic birds in the area.

If you would like to meet the artist, she’ll be at Island Gallery West on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She will be happy to discuss her passion for everything wild!

Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates. Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitizer is available.

Island Gallery West featured artist makes appearance

Island Gallery West featured artist makes appearance

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West’s Featured Artist for the month of October made an appearance at the gallery on Oct. 8. Jim Wheeler has been a photographer since the age of 16, and is a longtime painter of acrylics. These skills combine in “Feathers,” an exhibit of Wheeler’s work featuring photographs that have been digitally and/or manually enhanced with the addition of acrylic over-painting for a unique “painterly” look.

“I use a multi-step process to get the effect I’m looking for. I’m shooting for an impressionist look,” said Wheeler, speaking about how he gets the unique look that presents more as a painting than a photograph after the unique process is complete. 

Wheeler chose the “Feathers” theme because of his love for birds of all kinds. Bird pictures have always dominated his body of work and he finds them to be a big part of the beauty of nature. He’s had a Timneh Grey Parrot who has been his companion since 1990 and has spent many hours on long bicycle rides with Wheeler, who has been a bicycle-ride leader, president and general board member with the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the past 15 years.

Island Gallery West featured artist makes appearance
Scarlet Macaw by Island Gallery West’s October featured artist, Jim Wheeler. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“I’ve always loved birds, but I didn’t realize that the bulk of my work was of birds until my wife pointed it out,” said Wheeler. “First off, my parrot is my real buddy. He sits on my shoulder and we go for walks and find birds. Living here, there are so many. I’ve been all over the world but I found that people in Florida, especially tourists from out of town don’t come here to buy artworks of African animals. They want native wildlife, so I tend to stick to that.”

Jim Wheeler has had photographs published nationally on multiple occasions, served as a judge for the Cleveland Photographic Society and worked as the award-winning chief editor for a national business magazine, among other career achievements.

Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates about the art and 28 member-artists of the gallery. Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitizer is available.

Island Gallery West welcomes new members

Island Gallery West welcomes new members

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West features art created by its 30 member artists who work in paint, drawing, mixed media, photographs, sculpture, jewelry and glass mosaics. The gallery recently announced the addition of two new member artists to the co-op.

Terri Westbrook is a painter whose style leans toward impressionism, working primarily in pastel media. She is inspired by the places she has traveled to and lived, including Charleston, S.C., Anna Maria and the Florida Panhandle.

Westbrook discovered her love of creating a little later in life than many artists. She has learned the basics of art and the nuances of pastel art only in recent years from online and in-person instruction.

“My paintings are journal entries, my response to what I see when I’m out in nature, or my emotions about a place I visited many years ago,” she said. “Making art is like meditation for me. I hope people enjoy my pieces that come from my heart.”

Larry Paul is an award-winning artist who creates unique works of art using Prismacolor colored pencil, inks and graphite. From impressionistic old doors and windows, realistic plant drawings, and expressionistic interpretations of sunsets and volcanoes, Paul’s art comes from decades of studying and photographing the natural world’s effects on human-made objects – the beauty of decay, the complexity of the philodendron plant, and getting inspiration from walking the beaches of Florida’s west coast searching for sharks’ teeth.

Island Gallery West welcomes new members
Island Gallery West artist Larry Paul – Submitted

Much of Paul’s work derives from the outdoors and built environments, though subject matter and inspiration also come from a collection of his original photographs taken since the 1970s, along with photographs taken during self-prescribed photographic exploration tours. 

Island Gallery West is a co-op with each member paying a portion of the sale of their art to fund the operating costs. They currently have 32 member artists, all of whom are from the area. The gallery welcomes submissions from any local artist who would like to become a member. After submitting required material and documentation, new members must get a two-thirds majority of current members’ approval to be accepted.

The gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, trolley stop 15. Normal hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, but they will be closed for renovation from Sept. 13-24. For more information on the gallery and its artists, or on becoming a member, visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648.

Island Gallery West

Island Gallery West extends “Live Colorfully”

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Art imitates life at the Island Gallery West with the “Live Colorfully” exhibit currently on display. Vibrant works of art inspired by the flora, fauna and people of Anna Maria Island and surrounding areas draw the eye to native birds, crashing waves and everything in between. 

The artists displaying their paintings, drawings, photographs, mixed media, pottery, jewelry, glass mosaics and more are all Island Gallery West members. 

“The works featured in the ‘Live Colorfully’ display were juried in by a member committee,” Gallery member Susan Maas said. “Members were invited to submit a couple of works each for consideration; that was the process for this exhibit.”

The Island Gallery West is a co-op with each member paying a portion of the sale of their art to fund the operating costs. They currently have 30 member artists, all of whom are from the area. The Gallery welcomes submissions from any local artist who would like to become a member. After submitting required material and documentation, new members must get a 2/3rd majority of current members’ approval to be accepted.

“Not all of our members live on the Island, but everyone is from the area. I think we have one artist who lives in Tampa, but that would be the farthest away. We’re certainly local,” Maas said. 

The “Live Colorfully” exhibit has been extended through the end of September, so there is plenty of time to view or purchase these works of art. Island Gallery West is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, trolley stop 15. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information on the Gallery and its artists, or becoming a member, visit the website or call 941-778-6648.

‘Petal Away’ at Island Gallery West

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

Island Gallery West’s November featured artist, Marti Salerni, presents “Petal Away,” an exhibit of brightly colored watercolor and acrylic paintings of whimsical bicycles and flowers. The highlight of her month-long exhibit will be the first of the season’s monthly public gallery receptions on Friday, Nov. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., as part of the 11th annual Anna Maria Island artsHOP event. Island Gallery West is at 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 941-778-6648.