CURRENT EXHIBIT
Don Russell
Originating from Winchester, Kentucky, Don Russell embarked on his photographic journey during his teenage years, a passion that has spanned his lifetime. Russell refined his skills at the University of Kentucky and The Maryland Institute College of Art, further broadening his expertise with a BS in Electrical Engineering. His work has garnered attention on both national and international stages, featured in notable exhibitions at The Center for Fine Art Photography, The Griffin Museum of Photography, and Davis Orton Gallery. Russell’s significant contributions to the Cowboys of Color Project have been recognized and preserved in the collections of The Autry Museum in Los Angeles, CA, and the Stark Museum in Orange, TX. An accomplished author, Russell has published five books, with "Cowboys of Color" being the most recent. Residing in North Texas, he continues to explore and contribute to the photographic field through various projects including Cowboys of Color, Jason Griffin – Working Cowboy, Caught on Wire, The Grid, and The Asphalt Jungle.
Anthony Nenluis & Tarna Rena
Cowboys of Color
Machelle Baccus
Barrell Racer
Deante Thornton
Patrick Taylor
HERSHALL SEALS
Hershall Seals’ roots in South Texas have deeply influenced his connection to the land and its historical heritage, which serve as a cornerstone for his artistic expression. Seals incorporates ancient pictographs and petroglyphs from the Southwest into his diverse array of art forms, including jewelry, glass blowing, printmaking, assemblage art, sculpture, and painting. His work reflects a fusion of traditional visual languages with contemporary materials and techniques, exploring themes of transcendence, power, and the mystical. Seals holds a BFA in Art Education from Sam Houston State University and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Louisiana State University. His career has spanned over three decades, including a role as Visual Arts Co-Director at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple and a long-standing tenure as a professor at UMHB. Seals’ art is a testament to the enduring impact of cultural heritage and the transformative power of creativity.
Numinous Attention
Wrapped Offering
Pure and Simple
One Fell Swoop
Jenny Guarino invites you to examine color, shape and lines and their rhythm as they dance across different mediums reflecting the beauty of nature and its imperfections.
An Australian/American, she has gone on walkabout many times, traveling the world, taking photos and drawing aerial views of the sky and landscape from plane windows and sketching the colors and shapes of objects that excite and interest her.
In her Cosmos series, she invites you to look up at the sky. Looking beyond our world to others, she imagines other galaxies and stars with her unique and colorful abstractions.
Her diptych “Wave clouds” was purchased by the City of Houston for installation in their airports system.
iseestars
greencosmos
purplecosmos
Sheron Driessner
Sheron Driesner's journey into the arts began amidst her career as a registered nurse and the responsibilities of raising three children. Her initial exploration into tole painting in 1979 evolved into owning a craft store and later, a gift basket business, showcasing her versatile creative talents. Driesner expanded her artistic range into watercolor painting in the 1990s, later exploring colored pencils, acrylics, and oils. While residing in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, she earned an Associate of Art degree from Northeast Texas Community College in 2008. Driesner has shared her passion for the arts through teaching various classes in tole painting, watercolor, mosaics, and other crafts. Her commitment to the creative process and the joy of sharing knowledge with others reflect her deep appreciation for art's role in community and personal growth. Driesner is an active member of Bell Fine Arts, Salado Village Artists, and the Central Texas Art League, contributing to the vibrant artistic landscape of Texas.
Santa Fe Hospital Temple Tx
Water Street Belton, Tx
Fiestaware Pitchers
Sabrina Fajardo
I create art and design to evolve, heal and rise above. Through the process of creating art I find solace. Art grounds me and brings me to a meditative place where my vibration is elevated. It is sensory experience that takes you on a playful journey with colors, materials, shapes and ideas as they evolve with much curiosity on the canvas. I weave together textured spaces reminiscent of fabric, intertwined with botanical elements and focal objects.
I was born in the United States and raised in Colombia where I lived most of my life before I decided to move back to the United States in 2005. I grew up in a diverse and multi-cultural environment with constant exposure to different artistic expressions. Creativity was in the air at all times and the love for art came natural.
PEARS ON A TRAY
WHITE FLOWERS
WOMAN WITH RED SHAWL
GINA WIENER
Gina Wiener's art is an ode to the natural world, drawing inspiration from the verdant landscapes and wildlife of her Texan upbringing. From an early age, encouraged by her grandmother, Wiener began to capture the essence of nature through her drawings and paintings, initially focusing on butterflies and gradually expanding to a wider array of wildlife, with birds becoming a particular source of inspiration. Her artistic practice is akin to a study of natural sciences through the lens of creativity, reflecting a deep engagement with her subjects.
Wiener considers herself an eternal student of art, constantly exploring new mediums and techniques in her daily practice to refine her work. Beyond her personal artistic journey, she is passionately committed to inspiring others, especially children, to explore the world of art. Wiener believes in the transformative power of creative expression to influence and enrich lives, regardless of age. Her approach to art is not just about achieving technical proficiency but about fostering a broader appreciation for the beauty of the natural world and the endless possibilities inherent in artistic exploration.
AUTUMN YAROSZ
Autumn Yarosz, a Troy, Texas native, currently dedicates her days to educating young minds as a middle school science teacher in Temple, Texas. Her academic journey led her to Texas State University, where she pursued and earned a degree in wildlife biology, a field that reflects her deep-seated fascination with the natural world. This profound interest in nature's wonders serves as the cornerstone of her artistic endeavors.
Yarosz's art delves into the rich biodiversity of native Texas species, weaving each piece with a narrative that transcends mere realism to capture the essence and potential stories inherent in each habitat. Her technique is notably versatile, incorporating mixed media such as pen, gouache, and colored pencil to bring her visions to life. Through her artwork, Yarosz invites viewers on a journey of discovery and appreciation for the natural world, aiming to ignite a passion for conservation and a deeper interest in the myriad lives with which we share our environment.
She hopes that her work not only educates but also inspires a love and respect for nature, fostering a communal effort to safeguard the diverse species that inhabit Texas and beyond.
KURT RITTERPUSCH
Kurt grew up in Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and New Jersey. He is a graduate of American University in Washington, DC with a Fine Art degree in Studio Art and a concentration in painting. After completing training in the Army Reserve, Kurt became an Art Teacher in Arlington, Virginia public school system teaching Art, Photography, Art History and Graphic Design.
Kurt cal called up to active Duty in 2001 serving two combat tours in Iraq and two combat tours in Afghanistan receiving four Bronze Stars. Retiring from the Army in 2020, he has turned his focus toward painting and capturing nature.
Kurt is a figurative painter. He frequently paints local central Texas scenes, especially Belton, Texas.
KIM BLANKENSTEIN
Originally from Arizona, Kim Blankenstein harbors a deep love for the desert and the vast expanses of West Texas, landscapes that inspire her work and fuel her soul. Her true passion lies in Native American art, a field where she finds endless inspiration and connection. Through her artwork, Blankenstein aims to share her unique impressions of life, inviting viewers to experience the world through her eyes and hopefully, to find joy and inspiration in her interpretations of life's beauty.
Blankenstein brings to the art world a unique perspective honed over 45 years of both living with and creating art. With a profound appreciation for the beauty and intricacies of life, she attributes her distinct way of seeing the world to a blessing. Her journey has been deeply rooted in Texas, where she has spent the same number of years enriching her connection to the state's diverse landscapes and cultures.
Before embracing art full-time, Blankenstein dedicated 43 years to a career in Pharmacy at Baylor Scott and White, a tenure that underscored her commitment and work ethic. Now retired, she revels in the freedom to devote herself entirely to her art, exploring and expressing her creative vision without restraint.
