Dino Paravano – Wildlife
Painting wildlife is the passion of artist Dino Paravano. Born in Italy, Paravano lived in South Africa for many years. He is perhaps best known for his masterly paintings of Africa’s seascapes, sun-drenched landscapes and its wildlife. His unique understanding of — and ability to portray — animals in their natural habitats are brilliantly expressed in pastel and oil. Paravano is now a North American resident.
Educated at the Johannesburg Art School, study tours to Europe, England, the United States and South America for observation of wildlife enhanced Paravano’s natural artistic talent. Paravano has had more than 14 one-man shows in South Africa, New York and London, and his artwork has been exhibited internationally in more than 170 exhibitions of world class wildlife artists. His original artwork is also included in many prestigious private and corporate collections around the world, including the Kruger National Park collection in South Africa. Paravano’s paintings, drawings and illustrations also appear in eight books on African wildlife.
Since 1985, Paravano has participated in each of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s “Birds in Art” and “Wildlife in Art” shows and tours. In 1993, Paravano was the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Master Artist. Several Paravano originals are in the Museum’s permanent collection. Paravano has also been an exhibiting member of the Society of Animal Artists since 1983.
Although most of Paravano’s work is executed in his studio, it has all originated in the field. He believes that observing nature is important to carefully note color, shape, texture and the relationships between various objects. In his pastel work, Paravano at once achieves a soft, delicate surface that glows with the warmth of his palette and moves with the dynamics of his composition and forms.
The distinctive watercolors of Stan Myers are characterized by his sensitive observation to detail expressed through his vivid palette. “I use brilliant color,” he says, “to capture the feeling of light and atmosphere, at the moment of the experience. Light on a surface reveals the object, but more, the mood and substance of that single moment I have been captivated by and desire to share with the viewer. How can any of us help but want to share special moments of discovery with another”
A true artist sees what the average person does not, finding something exceptional in the everyday and something extraordinary in the ordinary. John Mullane sees the beauty of nature in urban environs where it could easily be overlooked.
Laura Mark-Finberg’s paintings have been described as “windows unto the soul” of the animals she paints., During a career that has spanned more than twenty five years Laura has explored a vast array of subjects in her quest to help the viewer understand a little more about the animals she paints. Laura is meticulous in her research and attention to detail and demonstrates a flawless search for truth in each painting…
Karla Mann grew up in a small town in the state of Washington. Her passion for drawing started at a very early age. She continued as a self-taught artist until she entered Tidewater Community College in 1991, the same year her son entered College. After receiving an Associate of Fine Art with honors from Tidewater Community College in 1994, she continued her education at Old Dominion University. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in 1997. Karla has taught at the Visual Arts Center of Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, Virginia and is at present teaching at the Contemporary Arts Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Rod Lawrence graduated with a fine arts degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan in 1973. Since then he has been working full-time as a professional artist. His credits include being named the Michigan Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year in 1979 and the Michigan United Conservation Club’s Michigan Wildlife Artist of the Year in 1981. He has the winning designs for the 1981, 1987, and 1992 Michigan Trout Stamps. He had an unprecedented double win for both the 1995 Michigan Duck Stamp and 1995 Michigan Trout Stamp. He also won the 1983, 1990, 2000, 2002 & 2007 Michigan Duck Stamp design contests. He is one of only two artists to win six Michigan Duck Stamps and one of only two artists to win four Michigan Trout Stamps. He is a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists.
Kathy Lawrence grew up and studied art in New York City, in an environment ideal for a budding artist. Her earliest childhood memories are of happily painting alongside her mother in her studio, using her mom’s best sable brushes and paints. Today, like her famous mother, Lawrence is well known to collectors for her paper doll books. She often modeled for her mother, artist Queen Holden, whose paperdoll books from the 1930s to the 1960s are highly collectible and are still being reproduced today. Surrounded by her mother’s artist friends, Lawrence was familiar with illustrators such as Maude Fangel, whose lovely pastels of babies graced magazine covers from the 20s through the 40s, and children’s book artists Eulalie and Ruth Newton. Recalls Lawrence, “I was blessed with a wonderfully nurturing childhood, and I’m sure that has had a role in making children such a favorite subject of mine. Painting the things that delight me a child’s little hands in prayer, the play of light on a fringed coverlet, the precious feeling of a baby in one’s arms makes artwork ever fascinating and challenging. I love to include the timeless old toys that are a child’s patient and loving companions, and to place them in surroundings that feel familiar, comfortable and safe, like the childhood I remember.” The charming illustrations of Kathy Lawrence have been included in the Society of Illustrators’ prestigious Annual of American Illustration. Lawrence has painted for a major greeting card company for many years, and her artwork has also appeared on collectors’ plates and giftware. Among her portrait commissions is the official portrait of former Los Angeles mayor, Thomas Bradley. Lawrence, her husband and daughter live in Texas and share a passion for old historic houses. Together, they are restoring a turn-of-the-century Queen Anne Victorian home.
As an artist, Shane Lamb has been capturing the beauty of Alaska most of his life. He received his formal art training from Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1990. Since then he has dedicated his professional life to painting the Alaska he knows, drawing inspiration from a land he considers one of Nature’s most beautiful.
Born in Hungary in 1946, Andrew and his family immigrated to Canada in 1957 after escaping the turmoil of the Hungarian uprising against the Russian invasion. After arriving on the East Coast of Canada, their journey eventually led them to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Although Andrew spent his early adulthood employed as a topographical draftsman, his love of art was always with him. He began working with oils and painting his surrounding landscape. A move to the interior of BC gave him more inspiration with the vast mountains, lakes, and wildlife. In the early 1980’s he started to paint wildlife and sell his works through small local shows and galleries. This self taught artist was starting to see his talent evolve through developing his own recognizable style.
Mark Kelso was born in 1967, and raised in Indianapolis, IN. During his early years, through the support of his family, he spent much of his time immersed in art and nature. From this background, Mark chose the visual arts for his career. He majored in painting at John Herron School of Art, in Indianapolis, IN, and began doing social, philosophical, and environmentally oriented subject matter in his senior year. This nature/civilization content in his paintings was translated to wildlife and landscape subject matter the following year, and has remained a reoccurring theme in his work over the years.