Below is a sampling of the OPAS Artist Members' Art
Bill
Buckingham
Bill creates beautiful original western
scenes on natural stone and canvas using colored inks. Bill chooses interesting
stones and then lets the stones themselves help him paint the scenes.
Bill is reperesented by Kaye Griffith Fine Art Gallery in Salado, Texas.
miss-fit@msn.com, (972) 377-6460
Joy was born on the south coast of England and won a scholarship to the Eastbourne College of Art in her mid teens. During her married life and bringing up four children she has created art mainly a hobby, keeping up during this time with various art classes. She has worked in most of the different art mediums and also some ceramics, but around 1990 just before moving to America she "discovered" (as she says) pastels and found that this was the medium with which she most enjoyed working.She now does People and Animal Portraits and also Landscapes working in pastels from a client's photo. Most of her work she does on commission, the last landscape that she did for herself won a "First" Blue Ribbon at the Denton branch of the Texas A&M Extension Conference.
Richard creates decorative, indoor and outdoor sculptures in copper and steel. Most recently, he has concentrated on a variety of botanical sculptures including, Calla Lilies, Bird of Paradise, Cattails, and Cactus in both patinated and polished copper. Other themes include copper images of the American West and a series of crosses and abstracts in steel and bronze.
Richard grew up in the Northeast and studied with Nautical Sculptor C. R. Clawson in the late 1960's and early 1970's. He learned the techniques of fabricating three-dimensional copper images using a variety of metal-forming hammers, shaping tools and torches. "I use a multi-layered patina technique to add color and realism to my botanical sculptures. This technique can require several days for the layers to blend and achieve the desired colors and tonal shadings. A neutralizing technique stops the process and the resulting patina is sealed to retain the color. Gold leaf may then be applied to highlight the edges of the flowers or leaves. www.copperandsteelsculpture.com
Renee
Collins
Renee first got involved in glass crafting when
she took a stained glass course in 1994. After creating a few copper foil pieces,
she created leaded window panels. With limited time to work on glass projects,
it took a year and a half to design and install a large, five-foot arch, leaded
window. This beautiful window is now installed at her parents' home in Colorado.
Now
that Renee is self-employed, she is back into glass, enjoying the artistic creation
of glass fusion pieces. She started selling pieces through family and friends.
She has created a line of glass works called Illumination, which hold tea lights
and floating candles. Another line called Inspiration includes bowls, plates,
wall art and jewelry.www.lakeshoreindustries.com
Lisa's Paintings, Drawings, and Stained Glass Windows are in Auto Dealerships, Restaurants, Galleries, Rolls-Royce Owners Club Headquarters, and many private collections.
Lisa has specialized in auto art since college. She states, "I want the viewer to feel the desire to take a ride and get to know the vehicle. I want them to feel the car or boat has a life of its own." Lisa creates the program and poster art for the "Wooden Keels and Classic Wheels" Concours d'Elegance held at the Lakewood yacht club. Each year the original painting has been auctioned at the event to raise money for the charity that the show benefits. She designed ladies scarves and men's ties for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Concours d'Elegance and for the Classic Car Club of America. Her artwork has appeared on covers of Rolls-Royce Owners Club and Classic Car Club of America publications. "Old Cars Weekly" has put her art on its cover four times.
Lisa is a member of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, Phantom III Technical Society, Classic Car Club of America, Antique Automobile Club of America, Jaguar Owners Association of the Southwest, Antique and Classic Boat Society, and The Wooden Boat Association. She drives, restores and maintains classic, neo-classic, and special interest autos and boats.
www.LRDaniels.com
Mary says she paints the "colors of life," in her wide variety of watercolors - bright florals, cowboy hats, chickens-- as well as commissioned Pet Portraits, Home Portraits, Bridal Bouquets from photos. She took her first drawing class after her two children were grown, and had completed her Ph.D. She has studied watercolors with regional and nationally known artists-- Zoltan Szabo, Ken Hosmer, Tom Lynch, Judi Betts, and Carol Maddox at LaRomita in Terni, Italy.
Mary's paintings have won awards in juried shows in Oklahoma and Texas. She is represented by the Old Bank Fine Art Gallery, Ada, Oklahoma, and Miller Fine Art Gallery, Salado, Texas. This painting, "My Garden," is featured in the book Best of America Watercolor Artists & Artisans, Vol. 1.
Mary teaches online computer classes at Collin College, Frisco, Texas, and has a cold laser ecommerce site. She is a member of Visual Arts Society of Texas, Texas Visual Arts Association, and the Southwest Watercolor Society. www.maryemerson.com
Donnie
French
Donnie is a Texan and has been a Fashion Designer
in Dallas for many years and a Director of Design for a large western company
in Ft. Worth. She designed jewelry to go with some of her fashions. She owned
and operated a fashion and production company for 13 years.
Now
that Donnie is semi-retired her interest and love has turned to Natural Stone
one of a kind jewelry, which she now creates. As a Member of SASS (Single Action
Shooting Society), she enjoys designing Western Fashions from the 1850s to 1900s
for herself and friends.
DeAnn
Grant
Jewelry has been a hobby for DeAnn since high school.
Since then only custom pieces were created for friends, family and a few lucky
customers. Only in the past year has DeAnn started selling these one of a kind
pieces to the general public.
IRJewelry
offers hand crafted jewelry made from the finest Sterling Silver, Bali Silver,
Precious, Semi-Precious, Fresh Water Pearls and Swarvoski Crystal. www.irjewelry.com/irjewelry.asp
Joel
Catherine Olson
Joel is a multi-media artist, whose
paintings traditionally depict Native Americans, their symbols and culture in
a varied and abstract background. Her work has been in galleries in Ohio, Texas,
and New Mexico. She is currently in Woods of Mission gallery and workshop in Sanger,
Texas.
Joel is on the executive board of the American Indian
Arts Council, Inc. of Dallas, Texas; volunteers as a coordinator for the American
Indian Arts Festival and Market held in Dallas; and is a volunteer speaker on
the subject of Native American Ledger Book paintings. Joel and her husband, Duane,
reside in Oak Point, Texas where Joel's love of turtles has led to the raising
turtles that have been rescued.
Tracy
Palmer
Tracy
was born and raised in London, England. After living in much of England,
South Africa, and California, she settled in Texas where she earned her
Bachelor degree in Fine Arts. While growing up and traveling, she was
always drawn to the fresco paintings found in the churches and cathedrals
that she visited. Fresco painting is the old-world style of painting on
wet plaster. Though busy as a decorative artist and muralist, she still
finds time for fresco painting. Tracy still enjoys the process and results
of fresco-style painting and the old-world style which it evokes. 972-294-8788,
www.TracyPalmer.com
I have been married to my wonderful husband, Jeff, for 11 years. My
husband owns an electrical contracting company in Dallas and we grow hay, weather permitting.
I've always had a love of photography but have never pursued that interest, until recently, and only then with lots of encouragement from friends and family. I have a great love of the outdoors and the environment, and I hope that comes through in my pictures.
Franziska moved from Switzerland to Texas 13 year ago. Since then she has studied at the Collin County Community College, the Plano Recreation Centers, and with individual artists and organizations. Classes in art history, drawing, sketching, life drawing, color study, painting in oil, acrylics, watercolor, photography, the study of collage and texture, air brushing, sculpting, stained glass and glass fusing, encaustic-hot wax painting, as well as wood- and metalwork helped Ms. Bader find a special niche in the art world.
Six years ago the artist moved to Lakewood Village TX, south of Oak Point. The closeness to nature inspires her to fresh creations. She always likes to explore new techniques, styles and materials and combine them in her pictures and paintings. Multi media holds the greatest fascination and excitement for her, fueling her love of art, which she wants to share with others. www.FranStrebel.com
Rhonda
Unnerstall was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, moved to Texas 25
years ago and now resides in Oak Point, Texas. She spends most of her
time on the farm she calls home, and a cabin north of there, which she
visits regularly.
Her
love of animals has lead her to the original designs, techniques and colors
of the Longhorn Mosaics she now creates in her studio. The influences
of the Indian art she grew up with and the Western art seen in Texas makes
for the combination you can see in her designs. Her work began when she
would see longhorn skulls that were missing the beautiful colors they
once displayed. Some of her designs actually came from
steers in the pastures surrounding her farm. The longhorns are truly a
one-of-a-kind piece of art. For additionak information, contact Rhonda
at 972 294-8347 or visit www.longhornmosaics.com
