Frank Holmes' Portrait of A. Lee Sackett in the Style of Ingres

A. Lee Sackett by Frank Baker Holmes
Oil on panel, 22" x 19"

Frank Baker Holmes is a masterful painter who was awarded the Prix des Rome at the time he was my instructor (when I was a student in the College of Fine Arts) at Ohio University in 1973. I 've been following his career, albeit from a distance, ever since and have enjoyed each new veer. 

This summer I inquired as regards what he's been working on since I last visited his studio/home in 2019. He responded by sending this portrait of A. Lee Sackett in the style of Ingres.

For those unfamiliar, Jean-Augustine-Dominique Ingres was a French neoclassical painter of the early part of the 19th century. At the age of 22, he made his Salon debut in 1802. He was strongly influenced by past artistic traditions, just as Holmes is today.

The subject in Frank Holmes' portrait, A. Lee Sackett, had a long and distinguished career as an exhibit designer (among other things) with Parks Canada. 

As you can see from the portrait below, Holmes' painting is ‘related’ to Ingres portrait of Louis-Francois Bertin. Bertin was a French writer, art collector and director of the pro-royalist Journal des débats.

Portrait of Louis-Francois Bertin by Ingres

Another feature of this painting that interested me was that his life partner Jill Mackie is also a portrait painter.  In fact, I've privately dubbed her "the portrait painter of the family." This is not to suggest that Frank hasn't done his share of portraiture. 

Some of Jill Mackey's paintings have hung in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. Here's an excerpt from a 2017 interview: "Portraiture appeals to me because of the simplicity and beauty and character of the human being. It never fails me that in drawing and painting a portrait, the person begins to glow from the soul as we work."

I think Frank has captured a little bit of that glow in his Ingres-style portrait of A. Lee Sackett.

Related Links
"Paintings, Now & Before: Figures, Flowers, Landscapes" and an Introduction to Jill Mackie
Veteran Painter Frank Holmes Discusses His Prix de Rome and Life as an Artist
Almost Wordless Wednesday: Frank Holmes Studio Tour

Thriving After a Setback: Artists Frank Holmes and Jill Mackie Revisited

A Most Unusual Portrait: The Sarcophagus

Jill Mackie Studio Tour

The Artists of Yellow Bird Fine Art Have Found a Nest in Duluth

Saturday I shared images from a multimedia project called FISHNETSTOCKINGS, now appearing at the Joseph Nease Gallery along with a pair of paintings by Jonathan Thunder. While there I learned about the Open House at the Yellow Bird Fine Art Gallery located adjacent to Zeitgeist. So nice to see the new resident in our Downtown Duluth Arts District.

There were many familiar faces at the opening, and the walls are filled with works by many or our regional artists. I thought I'd heard someone say that there are 70 artists represented, though I am not entirely sure I heard correctly. In addition to paintings, they have glass works, pottery and jewelry. Here are just a few of the names represented: Karl Weber, Kris Nelson, Karen Nease, Sophie Irvine, Margie Helstrom, Anna Marie Pavlik, Jean Hedstrom, Luke Hillestad, Sue Rauschenberg and many others.

The Yellow Bird Fine Art gallery is located on Superior Street at the corner of 3rd Avenue East, adjacent to the Zeitgeist. Here's a clip from Fox21 about the new gallery and its team.

Another Stellar Student/Instructor Exhibition at the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art

This is a photo of the interior when it was first being
considered for purchase and renovation.

Last night I attended the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art's 2021 Student/Instructor Exhibition and what a rewarding evening. The progress these young artists have made is impressive, and the lifting of Minnesota's "Mask Mandate" a couple days ago made it especially rewarding. It was great to see actual smiles rather than just twinkling eyes.

The art school is located at 810 West 3rd Street here in Duluth, a former Catholic church. What follows are some of the photos I took, though there was much, much more to see than you see here. The Open House will continue today so drop in if you are able.

Portraits by Kelly Schamberger

Painting of Jeffrey T Larson teaching painting.

Same painting, with last night's open house guests in foreground

Perseverance, by Patrick Glander. Oil on canvas.

Four paintings by Jake Tremble

Cherub by Nelia Harper

Coffee Plate by Patrick Glander

Vintage by Jeffrey T. Larson

Mastering basic skills.

Reproducing forms while learning to see color values.

Brutus Bargue Copy by Austin Jasurda

Green Plate by Patrick Glander

Kelly Schamberger, Self Portrait at 35

For more information about the Great Lakes Academy, visit 

www.greatlakesacademyoffineart.com

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Still Two Weeks Left to See Some Fab Paintings from Students at the Great Lakes Academy Here in Duluth

 

This past several years I've been following the work of the 

Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art.

Currently there is a show at the Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace

aka the Folk School in the Lincoln Park District.

The coffee is satisfying, the still life paintings superb.

It's a wonderful collection and rewarding example of what's possible

for those determined to master the arts.

Stars of this show:

Kelly Schamberger

Benjamin McGaffey

Patrick Glander

Jake Tremble

Eric Rauvola

Archie Page

Related:

Great Lakes Academy Celebrates Third Year

Catalyst Documentary Features Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art Founder Jeffrey Larson

Great Lakes Academy--Main hall.

The Catalyst Content Festival is approaching fast, now under three weeks away. In addition to meetings, training workshops and networking, a central feature of events of this type is the screening of films, or in this case, films and podcasts, scripts and pitches. Everything from drama series, short film, documentary and comedy will be showcased.

As I looked through the offerings I noticed there's a short documentary about Jeffrey T. Larson, the artist who with his son co-founded the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art. (GLAFA) The school has now entered its fourth year and its students have been producing phenomenal work. (Here is link to their third Student/Instructor Exhibition last spring.)

Painting by Larson

The short film is titled, simply Jeffrey T. Larson. You can watch the trailer here.

I believe I first met Jeffrey Larson when he gave a talk at the Tweed Museum of Art the summer before the GLAFA was opened. In retrospect it seemed clearly designed to raise awareness that something big was emerging on the West Hillside here in Duluth. At the end of their first year they held an open house weekend in which their first year students were showcased. This practice has continued each spring.

Detail from larger piece.

Detail from painting "Heidi"

In similar fashion, artist Jeffrey T. Larson has reproduced a passion for painting in his son Brock and together they have undertaken an enterprise that goes far beyond making art. After much deliberation they have undertaken to start a world-class art school here in the Twin Ports on Duluth's West Central Hillside.

The photos on the page feature Larson's painting, the school and students at work. Between the GLAFA, the Homegrown Music Festival, Duluth Dylan Fest, DuSu Film Festival, Grandma's Marathon, Blues Fest, and now the Catalyst Content Festival--not to mention the exceptional beauty of our lake and region--we've got some seriously great foundations being laid to make Duluth a premiere cultural center of sorts.

Thank you to all of the artists and people who have worked to make these things possible. We, the community, are the beneficiaries. How cool is that?

Larson is fascinated with objects....

* * * *

Detail

...and Light, and People.

Related Links
Megan McGarvey and Katie Lindow Discuss Outsourced, Their Documentary Film About a Decision at UWS
The Changing Face of Post-Production for Movie Makers
Catalyst Content Documentary Selections
Catalyst Festival Home Page
Jeffrey T Larson Documentary Trailer 

Local Arts Seen: Minnesota Black Fine Art Show @ the DAI

Carl Wesley--Temple #7

Last Wednesday the Duluth Art Institute hosted an opening reception for three new exhibitions. The Minnesota Black Fine Art Show is now on display in the John Steffl Gallery on the balcony above the Great Hall. Jean: The Inspiration Behind the Birkenstein Arts Movement is on display in the Morrison Gallery. And Claudia Faith's Family is in the Corridor Gallery.

Minnesota Black will be on display through January 2. The curated show features emerging and established black Minnesota artists of African descent. This is a show that has been traveling around the state with Duluth as its final stop. Many, if not mot most, of the artists were present to discuss their work at the reception. Examples of their work are shared here to give a flavor of what you will find. As I often say, for best results check it out in person.

A few local Duluth artists whom I have been following for many years have a work in this show. Carla Hamilton has several pieces. One of her quotes was used on the show's program. "While nobody's comfort is guaranteed, a new perspective certainly is."

Ivy Vainio--Breaking Free #2

Terresa Moses--Excuse Me Ladies

Carla Hamilton--Triangle Women

Terresa Moses--Gelevolution

Antowon Key--Red, White & Black #8

* * * *

Eyenga Bokamba--Great Migration

* * * *

Vern Northrup studies an artist's dyptich.

I sometimes like to take pictures of people looking at paintings because it provides a sense of scale. In this case it's a little more than that. I found the some abstract color of the paintings to have the feel of fire. Vern Northrup is a photographer who this past couple years has been showing his work, some of which features fire. 

In February last year Vern gave a talk regarding the manner in which traditional Native culture has utilized fire as a tool. The exhibition of Northrup's photographs in the AICHO Gallery was titled Ishkode, which means "Fire" in the native Ojibwe tongue. (See: The Role of Fire In Native Culture.)

Featured Artists

The following artists have work featured in this exhibit. 

Kprecia Ambers, Minneapolis; kpinspires.com
Eyenga Bokamba, Minneapolis; eyengabokambapaintings.com
Christopher E. Harrison, Twin Cities; harrisonartstudio.net
Carla Hamilton, Duluth
Bill Jeter, Minneapolis; homewoodstudios.com/artists/jeter.html
Antwon Key, Mankato; antwonkey.com
Terresa Moses, Duluth; terresahardaway.com
Theoneste Munyemana, Minneapolis
Ivy Vainio, Duluth
Carl Wesley, Minneapolis

Related Links

Catching Up With Artist Carla Hamilton

Talking Photography With Ivy Vainio