Current Newsletter

Our Spring 2008 issue is now available electronically to our patrons and visitors, in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) form. You can read it by clicking here. If you do not have the freely available Acrobat Reader plugin on your computer, you may install it from here: Adobe Acrobat plugin

AAEA News

New Lanford Monroe Book

Chipper Thompson, husband of the late AAEA Artist, Lanford Monroe has just published a new book about her life and art. The book, titled "Homefields, the Art of Lanford Monroe" is a 12" x 12" hardcover edition with over 100 color images of Lanford's work. Mr. Thompson will be attending a book signing at Joseph Beth Bookseller here in Lexington on Monday, December the 10th from 7-9 p.m.

AAEA Artist Fay Bohlayer Awarded Signature Status in Women Artists of the West (WAOW)

On November 15, 2007 AAEA Full Member, Fay Bohlayer was awarded Signature Status by Women Artists of the West, an organization with members in 30 states across the US . This honor was achieved through continued, prescribed advertising with the WAOW members in such magazines as "Art of the West", "Southwest Art", and "Wildlife Art", and admission to national juried shows each year since 2002. Such entries include not only western and equine themes, but also still life, figurative, and landscape efforts. The artist has found the association with WAOW to be enlightening and effective in broadening her artistic scope, and encourages others to examine participation possibilities with WAOW at the website www.WAOW.Org.

Sculptor and Founding Member, Marilyn Newmark will be featured in the Fall Foliage Sculpture Show and Sale at the Sculptureworks Garden Gallery at Weston Gardens in Fort Worth, TX from October 6 - 7, 2007. In addition to being a Founding Member and Director of Sculpture for the AAEA, Marilyn is also a signature member of the National Academy (Academician), a Fellow and Director of the National Sculpture Society, Vice President and Juror of the Society of Animal Artists. She received her education from Alfred University and Adelphi College. Marilyn also studied as a protégé of the late renowned illustrator Paul Brown.

Marilyn's bronze sculpture, "Broken Leather" was also recently selected as the cover art for the Fall 2007 issue of Horses in Art magazine.

The AAEA at Saratoga

Saratoga in August has always been a place to enjoy the beauty and excitement of great horses and great art. Adding to the Saratoga experience this year were the many AAEA artists who had work on display at various galleries around town.

At Terry Lindsey Equidae Gallery at the Holiday Inn on Broadway, Sam the Bugler serenaded guests at the opening reception. Featured Academy artists included Werner Rentsch, Beth Parcell Evans, Kathy Partridge and Lesley Humphrey.

Anthony Alonso and Jan Woods had a champagne opening at their gallery in the Blue Room at the Gideon Putnam Hotel.

AAEA member Christine Cancelli showed the work of Kathleen Friedenberg, Heather St.Claire Davis, Larry Wheeler and Shelley Hunter at her gallery in the Whitney Room of the Saratoga Hotel.

Nancy Pellatt exhibited some of her work at the Beresford Gallery on Union Ave.

Cross Gate Gallery also showed the work of many AAEA artists during the first two weeks of August at The Masters of American Fox Hounds show at the Saratoga Sales Pavilion.

All in all it was an exiting time to be in Saratoga this year.

Artist in Residence-Horse Park of KY
April 23-29
By Ellen A. Gavin

This April I was able to take advantage of the AAEA ‘Artist in Residence’ program at the Kentucky Horse Park. This was my first opportunity to be an artist in residence. I must admit, before I researched the process, it felt very intimidating! But I found that all you have to do is ask. If the time is available it’s yours.

As in all ‘next steps’ there is an element of, well…. ready or not here I go! Once committed the whole process will pulled me forward. Here is a little recount of my experience, and encouragement for you to try it for yourself.

First, the hardest thing was deciding to take a ‘week off’ to paint. I wanted to do oil sketches from life. I knew there would be a multitude of live models available. You can even paint inside the barns, if you respect the workers’ and horses’ schedule

Plus, it was Rolex week, The Spring Invitational AAEA Exhibit at Cross Gate Gallery, and the AAEA meeting. Many opportunities to meet AAEA members, see good painting, and shoot new refernce photos. All that helped me pick this time.

The week went by very quickly! I painted all day. As an experience plein air painter, I eventually went out painting by the schooling rings at Rolex. This is stressful! But I just wanted to force myself to do it. If you’re not brave, pretend, no one can tell the difference. Little by little it got easier. (Well a little easier) Even on windy days. with a sketchpad & charcoal in hand. Spectators and competitors were very kind and supportive. They were interested my work, and in hearing about the AAEA. I was careful though, not to spook the horses with easels and blowing paper. It’s good to keep that in mind.

One rainy day, I worked in the new AAEA art studio. Shelley Hunter’s dog Archie, was a reluctant model, but I was able to do a few poses. I read some good advice from a wildlife artist on sketching live animals. Start several poses on the same page. Animals will usually ‘return’ to a similar pose. This is especially helpful when watching ridden horses. Patience, patience, wait for pose to return, then observe and quickly draw!

A gallery area was set up by Shelley to display AAEA work. There was a constant stream of visitors, interested in the painting, sculpture, and workshops. This also gave me an opportunity to talk about my work (another good thing to practice.) All in all there was quite a lot to do, see and photograph for future paintings. It’s a great opportunity to take advantage of. My advice? Just give yourself permission to go!

British AAEA Associate Receives Honors

AAEA Associate Member Sally Martin is now a Full Member of the UK's Society of Equestrian Artists. She was also awarded the "President's Medal" at the SEA summer exhibition at Mall Galleries, London.

Congratulations Sally!

Newsletter Archive

Our regular newsletter is now available electronically to our patrons and visitors, in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) form. You can read it by clicking here. If you do not have the freely available Acrobat Reader plugin on your computer, you may install it from here: Adobe Acrobat plugin