Dave Holman: Rest in Peace

Dave in his Loveland studio

We lost one of our own recently: Dave Holman. This is a recent excerpt from the Ft Collins Coloradoan obituary:
 
David was born on August 26, 1944 and passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2014.
David was a resident of Fort Collins, Colorado at the time of his passing.

A memorial celebration of his life is scheduled for August 23rd, 9:30 am at Sunrise Ranch in Dome Chapel, followed by a reception. He is also Artist of the Month at the Loveland Visitor Center for the month of August.

This is from the "I love Loveland" facebook page:
Dave Holman is the "artist of the month" for the Loveland Visitor Center and we are proud to celebrate his life and works of art after his passing last Tuesday. Dave was gifted in oil, pastel and mixed media techniques creating landscapes, portraits, mindscapes, still life's, and more. Come and enjoy Dave's extraordinary talents, Mon.-Sat. from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. throughout August.  

I encourage to love and treasure those you love for you never know when your time in up. 

Figure and Form: Press Release

We held a free live drawing session at the Loveland Museum Gallery on June 15.  This is the article our local paper, The Reporter-Herald published the next day:

Live figure drawing session brings the pros and public together

Model poses for public to draw in support of "Figure and Form" exhibit

By James GarciaReporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:   06/15/2014 06:32:30 PM MDT

Mary Giacomini of Loveland paints model Sheridan Potter at Sunday's live figure drawing open session in support of the "Figure and Form" exhibit at the Loveland Museum/Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave. (James Garcia / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Standing perfectly still for 20 minutes, a model stares into the distance while a room of artists of all ages, skill levels and artistic backgrounds study her form, rendering her appearance onto canvases.
"It's about the human figure, the lighting and the form," said Mary Giacomini, professional Loveland artist and teacher.
With this passion for the artistry in the human form, a group of artists have been meeting each week for the last seven years. They call their meetings the Loveland Wild Life Sessions.
"We all have an attraction to draw people," Giacomini said. "Some of us are professional, some aren't. We're just friends."
Nine of the members of the group have produced works that are featured in the "Figure and Form" exhibit currently on display in the Loveland Museum/Gallery.
The group had an open session for the public to join them at the museum to draw or paint a live model, where around 15 people participated in 20-minute drawing intervals for a two and a half hour session.
"I love art and (my friend) thought I'd have fun here. And I really did," said former Loveland resident Kasey McQueeny, who is an art student living in St. Augustine, Fla. "I loved the experience here today."
For others, art acts as a release, a way to wind down and think differently from the day-to-day.
"It's a haven for me, let's me use the other side of my brain," said small business owner Steve Engeman, who is a member of the Loveland artist group and part of the museum's exhibit. "This is a good opportunity to see what it's all about."
The museum is hosting two more events in support of the exhibit with group member and Aims Community College art professor Victoria Lisi: a free portrait drawing demo 1-3 p.m. Sunday, July 6, and a $40 portrait workshop 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 20. Call 962-2410 or visit lovelandmuseumgallery.org for details.
To get more information about the artist group in Loveland, visit lovelandwildlifesessions.blogspot.com. Engeman is part of another group that meets Monday evenings in Fort Collins that is open to public. For details on either group, email s55x100@aol.com.
Contact Reporter-Herald Staff Writer James Garcia at 970-635-3630 or garciaj@reporter-herald.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/JamesGarciaRH.

Figure and Form: Loveland Wild Life Sessions, The Video

We have a video of some of our work:

Introduction:  Ever since humans have had the ability to draw, we have attempted to depict images of ourselves, for varying purposes: recording history, capturing a subject's individuality, anatomical study, or simply just to improve artistic skill. The regular practice of figure study is believed by many artists to be the foundation for great art.

In 2007, weekly meetings began at a local studio with live nude models in order to provide the opportunity for regular figure study to local artists. At these sessions, the model holds a "long pose" for three hours with breaks, and the artists use various media including graphite, charcoal, pastel, and oil, in the "alla prima" (fresh) style. Strong lighting exposes otherwise unseen features, yielding life in hidden places. These are The Wild Life Sessions.

CORRECTION: The last Santa couple picture should be attributed to Will Bemis.

Figure and Form: The Wild Life Sessions Show

Starting May 31, 2014  our life drawing/painting group is having a group show at the Loveland Museum Gallery.  The opening on June 13th is from 6-8pm and is open to the public.  The thought of a group show has been a dream of ours for many years and it's coming true!  Here is an excerpt from the Museum's webpage:  Please join us!

FIGURE AND FORM:
LOVELAND WILD LIFE SESSIONS

May 31 through July 27, 2014 Opening Reception: Friday, June 13, 6-8 pm

Green Room The love of the figure comes through in this group exhibit, juried by artist Filipe Echevarria. Following the long tradition of figure drawing, this Loveland group of artists meets regularly to refine their skills in rendering imagery from life. Including both paintings and drawings, this exhibit explores time-honored techniques of artistic training and is a celebration of beauty within the human form. Artists in this exhibit include George Coll, Venetia Ellis, Steve Engeman, Mary Giacomini, Danna Hildebrand, Suzi Holland, Dave Holman, Amy Lewark, and Victoria Lisi. In 2007, weekly meetings with live nude models began at a local studio in order to provide artists with the opportunity for regular figure study. During these sessions, the model holds a “long pose” for three hours, with occasional breaks, and the artists use various media including graphite, charcoal, pastel, and oil in the “alla prima” (fresh) style. Strong lighting exposes otherwise unseen features, yielding life in hidden places. These are The Wild Life Sessions

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

Live Figure Drawing: Free Open Session    space limited by first come, first seated basis Sunday, June 15, 1 – 3:30 pm FREE Have you ever wondered what compels artists to draw or paint from life? Find out for yourself by participating with the “Loveland Wild Life Sessions” open session group. We will provide a costumed model and working space. You are welcome to come and participate or observe. Bring your own art supplies if you wish to join in. If you’d like to ask the artists questions, you may do so during breaks.

Portrait Drawing Demo with Victoria Lisi Sunday, July 6, 1 - 3 pm FREE Observe as local artist Victoria Lisi demonstrates portraits drawing from a live model.

Draw Portraits Sunday, July 20, 1 - 3:30 pm Fee: $40 ($32 for museum members)    please register by July 13th Learn to capture human likeness and achieve the correct proportions with the placement of features such as eyes, nose, and mouth in facial portrait drawings. We will have a live model on site, or bring photographs to work from, as instructor Victoria Lisa helps you with the basics using pencil, charcoal, or conte.

Go Figure 2014

Several of the "Loveland Wild Life Session" artists will be part of this new figurative show.  Steve and Amy are two of the organizers.  Amy Lewark is the featured artist.  George  Coll is one of the jurors.  Suzi Holland, Danna Hildebrand and Mary Giacomini are participating.  There will be other artists participating as well.  Both original art and photography of the nude will be represented.  The opening is April 4, 2014 from 6-9pm as part of First Friday Artwalk in Ft Collins, Colorado.  The public is welcome to attend and meet the artists.

Art show at the Loveland Museum Gallery

 This summer our  "Wild Life Sessions" group will be having a show at the Loveland Museum Gallery.  We will have an opening  and meet the artists night on June 13, 2014.   Victoria Lisi will be doing a (free) portrait demonstration on July 6.  There will also be a workshop taught by Victoria Lisi and a 'paint along' this summer to go with the show.  Details to follow....

"Cathexis" by Amy Lewark

"Sitting Pretty" by Dana Hildebrand

by Dave Holman

by George Coll

"Illusion" by Steve Engeman

"Reclining Nude" by Suzi Holland

"Escape" oil by Mary Giacomini

"Naughty Santa" by Venetia Ellis

by Victoria Lisi

Danna Hildebrand

Danna Hildebrand recently moved to Loveland from Sheridan, Wyoming.  She is a painter and former art instructor at Sheridan College, now retired. Danna paints primarily in oils, but occasionally does watercolor, drawing, and pastels.  She has concentrated on "plein air" painting in the last ten years, as she loves the out-of doors.  Gardening is her hobby.

 

Danna has been a practicing artist and has shown mostly in Wyoming because of teaching demands. She has shown many times at The Brinton Museum, Nicolaysen Museum, Wyoming State Museum, University of Wyoming Art Museum and Ucross Foundation.  Her education in fine arts has been at these institutions; A.A. at Sheridan College,B.A. at Montana State University,and a M.F.A. at University of Wyoming.