We are proud to announce the 3rd Annual Red Barn Holiday Market is currently open!
We have over a dozen talented artists who have brought their art and crafts to the Sue Ross Arts Center. This is the perfect time to get some holiday shopping done! We have many high quality hand-crafted goods for sale by regional artists that you won’t find anywhere else!
Holiday Marketplace Featured Artists:
Jeanne Scott, Green Castle MO | Linda Colton, Leawood KS
Barb Fitzgerald, Greentop MO | Gary Gibson, Edina MO
Michael Killen, Kirksville MO | Maureen McHale, Kirksville MO
David Schell, Kirksville MO | Pam Schell, Kirksville MO
John & Andrea O’Brien, Kirksville MO | David Walker, Macon MO
Robin White, Kirksville MO | Wanda Cagle, Kirksville MO
Mary Jo Pickett, Kirksville MO
Below is a small preview of what you can find during the Holiday Marketplace!
While the Holiday Market is in the main Ellebracht Gallery, we are also holding an Art Sale upstairs in the Gaber Gallery!
The art featured upstairs has been donated to the Kirksville Arts Association, so everything is at a discounted price. Proceeds from the Art Sale directly support the Association!
Below is another small preview of what you will be able to find!
The Holiday Market and Art Sale will be open only until December 10th! Come stop by the Sue Ross Arts Center to find the perfect gift today!
We are located at 215 S Franklin, here in downtown Kirksville. We are open from 11AM to 4PM Monday thru Friday, and 10AM to 2PM on Saturday. We take all forms of payment (cash, check, card)!
Have a Happy Holiday from the Kirksville Arts Family!
In need of some unique Christmas shopping? Look no further! The Sue Ross Arts Center will be hosting our 3rd Annual Red Barn Holiday Marketplace!
What is the marketplace? Think of it as a mini Red Barn — we have a handful of artists and crafters who have been invited to set up their fine art and crafts here in the gallery! Peruse at your own pace as you find that perfect gift for your loved ones.
The marketplace will open next Wednesday, November 30th, and will run until Saturday, December 10th. Take a look at our invited artists, and see if you recognize any names!
Holiday Marketplace Artists:
Jeanne Scott, Green Castle MO
Linda Colton, Leawood KS
Barb Fitzgerald, Greentop MO
Gary Gibson, Edina MO
Michael Killen, Kirksville MO
Maureen McHale, Kirksville MO
David Schell, Kirksville MO
Pam Schell, Kirksville MO
John & Andrea O’Brien, Kirksville MO
David Walker, Macon MO
Robin White, Kirksville MO
Wanda Cagle, Kirksville MO
Mary Jo Pickett, Kirksville MO
We hope you stop by the Sue Ross Arts Center and find a hidden gem or two!
Looking to sponsor an upcoming exhibit or event? Reach out to us today! (660) 665-0500 or kirksvilleart@gmail.com
As of today, there is one week left to come and experience Dana Forrester’s current exhibit: No Picasso! We have many original watercolors, as well as prints for sale!
Dana is a nationally recognized watercolorist, known for his brick walls and collector automobiles. Dana is also a Kirksville native, so it feels wonderful to have his body of work on display here at the Sue Ross Arts Center.
Our next upcoming exhibit is our 3rd Annual Red Barn Holiday Market! Keep in touch to hear the latest news regarding our upcoming exhibits and events!
Join us tonight, Thursday, October 27th, for the opening reception of Dana Forrester’s No Picasso!
There will be food and drink, and wonderful watercolor art to admire!
Come and meet the artist himself, and learn a bit about our current exhibit! The reception and exhibit is housed at the Sue Ross Arts Center – located at 215 S Franklin – from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
There are both framed and unframed prints available for purchase, as well as the incredibly impressive originals!
We can’t wait to see you tonight!
Kirksville Arts is also incredibly happy to announce a new workshop available for sign-up! Join Kirksville-native artist Michell Mozingo and learn how to perfect your watercolor florals!
This workshop will be Saturday, November 5th from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Kirksville Arts Association members will enjoy a $45 fee to sign up; non-members will be $50. Reach out to us to sign up today!
We can be reached via phone (660) 665-0500, or email kirksvilleart@gmail.com
We have great news! There is a new exhibit currently on display at the Sue Ross Arts Center.
We are featuring a Kirksville native: Dana Forrester!
Dana has been painting professionally since the early 70s. He’s exhibited in and won awards in most national and museum juried exhibitions and major art shows across the US.
You won’t want to miss this show! It will be on display at the SRAC from October 24th to November 23rd.
Meet Dana in person and talk about his works during the reception on Thursday, October 27th from 5:30 PM to 7PM!
Dana creates about ten to twelve major works a year for publication as well as a number of commissioned watercolors for collectors wanting an original painting of a subject special to them. His paintings are included in many private, corporate, and museum collections worldwide.
Truman’s Symposium class is offering another activity for kid’s this month in conjunction with the Kirksville Arts Association: Make a Monster!
Kid’s ages 10 and up (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grade) are welcome to join us on Saturday October 22nd to Make your own Monster! All supplies will be provided to sew together your own denim monster just in time for Halloween!
The event will be from 1PM to 4PM at the Sue Ross Arts Center! No prior sewing or sewing machine knowledge is needed — there will be plenty of Truman students to assist!
Please reserve your space before Wednesday, October 19th by calling us here at Kirksville Arts. You can reach us via phone at (660) 665-0500, or via email at kirksvilleart@gmail.com.
Limited Space is available, so reserve your spot today!
The Kirksville Arts Association is proud to announce two upcoming workshops!
Both of these workshops are jewelry-related, and will be on October 8th. First, we have a Mommy and Me Jewelry making class. This is to encourage bonding between parent and child through creating beautiful jewelry together. Each of you will take home a necklace and bracelet at the end of the day! This does not necessarily have to be Mommy and Me — it can be Daddy and Me too!
The cost is $25 for non-members, and $20 for KAA members. This includes both parent and child — if you would like to bring more than one child, it is an additional $5 per child.
After the Mommy and Me class in the morning, we have another workshop available — Beginner Jewelry Making!
This workshop will have you learning the basics of jewelry making, and going home with one or two sets made yourself! This class is in the afternoon from 1PM to 4PM.
Sign up for these classes at the Sue Ross Arts Center, or over the phone! We take all forms of payment.
Class sizes are limited, so grab your spot while you can!
I hope you have had a wonderful September so far! Here at KAA, we have been preparing for this year’s upcoming 47th Annual Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival!
Red Barn takes place on Saturday, September 24th from 9AM to 4PM! This takes place on the same day as Truman University’s Family Day! There will be thousands of visitors coming to our historic downtown Kirksville square!
Even though we are getting close, we are still taking exhibitor applications! You can find them on our site, or you can mail in your application to us! At this time, any applications will not be in our printed materials, but you are always welcome to be an exhibitor!
Some of you may be familiar with our ad booklet this year — we decided to try something new regarding our sponsorships and advertisements this year! These are currently in the process of being printed, but you can have an exclusive first look here online!
Feel free to digitally flip through the pages and take a sneak peek at our upcoming exhibitors and talent!
We will have a multitude of food trucks with a great variety to choose from, as well as our Kid’s Corner and entertainment stage! There is something for the whole family to enjoy!
Red Barn has been and always will be Free and open to the public. Bring your friends and family and come and see some of the best arts and crafts the Midwest has to offer! We hope to see you then!
Thank you to the City of Kirksville and the Missouri Arts Council!
There are some changes for our last concert in our Summer Off the Square series! Unfortunately, Deadwood will be unable to play because of health reasons. We were lucky enough to bring Silverado to Kirksville this Friday!
Silverado brings us both classic rock and country!
Our last concert for our free concert series is sponsored by Kirksville Tourism, the City of Kirksville, Sparklight, and the Missouri Arts Council!
Be sure to bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and cool drinks! We will be starting at our usual time at 7PM!
Summer vacation may be coming soon to a close, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t have fun! We have another new performer at Summer Off the Square this week — Demi Michelle!
Demi hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; she brings us Acoustic Country and Pop! You won’t want to miss our new performer!
Demi and our concert series are only possible thanks to our sponsors! A big thank you to Sparklight, The City of Kirksville, Kirksville Tourism, and the Missouri Arts Council!
Our 47th Annual Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival is coming very soon! Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 24th! It will be from 9AM – 4PM! Come enjoy many local and non-local artists and crafters, as well as a wide variety of food vendors and entertainment!
We are still currently taking exhibitor applications, food vendor applications, sponsorships, and advertisement opportunities! Reach out to us if you are interested!
Only a few more Summer Off the Square concerts left for this year! If you haven’t made it down to the Sue Ross Arts Center for some free music, now is your chance!
StoneHouse are Kirksville natives! They will be bringing us high energy rock and roll, as well as classic rock.
StoneHouse is brought to you this week byPepsi-Cola! Our concerts could not happen without our wonderful sponsors Sparklight, the City of Kirskville, Kirksville Tourism, and the Missouri Arts Council.
Our free concerts start at 7PM, and are located at SRAC, 215 S Franklin.
This is the last week available for sign up for our Intermediate Acrylic Painting workshop! The workshop will be this Saturday, August 13th from 12:30 to 4:00 PM! It will be a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
Happy August! We here at the Arts Association hope you have had a wonderful summer so far!
The first Summer Off the Square performers for August is BootCut! BootCut hails from Macon, MO and will bring Southern Rock to the Square this Friday!
Bring your chairs, blankets, and picnics! It’s going to be an energetic and great concert!
BootCut is brought to us by our wonderful sponsors: Lovegreen Ford, The City of Kirksville, Kirksville Tourism, Sparklight, and the Missouri Arts Council.
Red Barn is coming up soon!
We are still taking exhibitor applications, and well as food vendor apps! We also have advertisement and sponsorship opportunities! Please reach out to us for more information — we would love to have you!
The date for Red Barn is Saturday, September 24th from 9AM to 4PM. Mark your calendars!
(660) 665-0500 | kirksvilleart@gmail.com
August also brings workshops! Another reminder to check out our upcoming workshop: Intermediate Canvas Painting! We are very excited about this workshop, as it is new to KAA! Be a part of history, and sign up today! (and tell your friends)
August is also the last month to stop by the Sue Ross Arts Center and see our current exhibit: Thank You For Your Service. This exhibit honors those who served in the US Armed Forces.
Feel free to check out the exhibit during our SOS BootCut concert on Friday!
Check back with us soon for more updates! Have a wonderful August!
Hello Kirksville! July is ending soon, so what a better way to send it off than with Pumptown Family Band!
Pumptown hails from Elliston, IA, and brings us a high energy, eclectic mix of new and old with a beat! Summer Off the Square couldn’t be possible without our sponsors: Sparklight, the City of Kirksville, Kirksville Tourism, and the Missouri Arts Council.
Pumptown Family Band bringing their “Drum infused country sound”
Pumptown starts at our usual SOS time, 7:00 PM outside of the Sue Ross Arts Center at 215 S Franklin here in Kirksville. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy your Friday!
This is also the last week to see “A Family Affair” with Andrew Gooch and his grandmother Diane Apa. Their exhibit is upstairs in our Gaber Gallery, and will be here until the end of July!
Our current exhibit on our Ellebracht gallery, “Thank You For Your Service,” will be here until August 31st.
We currently still have open spots to sign up for our current workshop: Intermediate Canvas Painting. This workshop will be August 13th, from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Register at SRAC by August 10th to reserve your spot!
Kirksville Arts Association is proud to present a new workshop available for sign-up!
Intermediate Canvas Painting with Larissa Fajkus, BFA. This workshop will be on August 13th, and run from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM.
KAA Members will be able to sign up for a $45 fee, and non-members at $50. Want to become a Kirksville Arts Association member? Find more information here!
Sign up today by sending us an email at kirksvilleart@gmail.com, or giving us a call at (660) 665-0500.
There will be no Summer Off the Square concert this Friday, out of respect of the NEMO Fair. However, be sure to come by the following Friday (July 29th) to catch Pumptown! You won’t want to miss it!
Ever wonder how Kirksville Arts manages to stay open on Saturdays? It’s because of our wonderful docent volunteers!
On Tuesday, KAA held a Docent Thank You Luncheon to show our appreciation for the continued dedication our docents provide. The meal was held in the beautiful Clara Straight room on the second floor of the Sue Ross Arts Center.
Interested in being a Docent on Saturdays? Give us a call at (660) 665-0500, or email us at kirksvilleart@gmail.com
This week will be your last chance to sign up for our Card Making for Beginners workshop! This workshop will be July 16th, from 9AM to 12PM at the Sue Ross Arts Center at 215 S Franklin here in Kirksville.
There are only two days left to secure your spot! Call or email us today to grab your spot before they’re gone!
Students will make fun, detailed cards that can be used for any occasion! You will also get to take home four (4) cards made during the workshop!
If you missed it, last week for Summer Off the Square we welcomed Mercy’s Bridge! Mercy’s Bridge brought us uplifting gospel music to enjoy. Our Sponsors who made this possible are the VFW Auxiliary, City of Kirksville, Sparklight, Kirksville Tourism and the Missouri Arts Council.
This Friday, our sponsors City of Kirksville, Sparklight, Kirksville Tourism and the Missouri Arts Council bring us the Kirksville Community Band!
Bring your lawn chairs and refreshments, and help us welcome a local favorite!
Kirksville Community Band is comprised of local musicians, as well as school band directors from area schools and their top students. Brad Hudson and Dan Peterson will again be directing the band.
Be sure to join us right outside of the Sue Ross Arts Center (215 S Franklin) at 7PM on Friday!
The art gallery will be open for visitors, so be sure to stop by to cool off and visit our current exhibit: Thank You For Your Service: A Photography Exhibit Honoring Veterans in the Ellebract Gallery, and A Family Affair upstairs in the Gaber Gallery!
The Kirksville Arts Association is proud to present Andrew Gooch and Diane G Apa’s art in our upstairs Gaber Gallery!
“A Family Affair” opens today, July 1st, and will be available for viewing until July 31st. Be sure to head upstairs when visiting our “Thank You For Your Service” exhibit.
Diane and Andrew are also both selling post cards of their art work! There are limited quantities, so be sure to stop by!
We hope you enjoyed last Friday’s Summer Off the Square band, No Apology!
We almost had to call a rain day, but we made it through unscathed! We even got to enjoy the outlaw honky-tonk to a beautiful rainbow at one point.
We were able to host No Apology with the help of our sponsors — without whom, none of these would happen! Thank you to Sparklight, The City of Kirksville, Kirksville Tourism, and the Missouri Arts Council.
We have a new workshop available for sign-up! Our quilling for beginners class has evolved into Beginner Card Making!
Join us at SRAC on July 16 to learn how to create and take home 4 self-made cards! The class will run from 9AM to 12PM noon. Reach out to us via the web, phone, or email to sign up today!
Our upcoming performance for Summer Off the Square is The Aaron Russel Band! Aaron Russel Band is brought to us by Chariton Valley, in addition to Sparklight, the City of Kirksville, Kirksville Tourism, and the Missouri Arts Council.
The Aaron Russel Band is a local favorite, and brings us Country from the 60s thru the 90s, Classic Rock, and a bit of Gospel. Be sure to see them this Friday, July 1st, at 7PM! We are still right outside SRAC at 215 S Franklin!
Before we enjoy Aaron Russel Band, we also get the pleasure of having the Kirksville Community Band play at 5:15 for the All American Red White and Blue Festival!
Follow the link above to learn more about the Festival activities going on this weekend!
We hope you are ready for our next band in our Summer Off the Square Series: Keota!
Keota at a previous SOS!
Keota hails from Macon, MO, and brings us Americana, Bluegrass, Country, and Classic Rock! Be sure to have your chairs and refreshments ready by 7PM on Friday for our next big show!
We are still located at the same place — the lawn next to the Sue Ross Arts Center at 215 S Franklin St.
Our Summer Off the Square concert series is brought to you by Sparklight, Missouri Arts Council, The City of Kirksville, as well as Kirksville Tourism!
A few updates for our members! We have changed the dates of some of our upcoming workshops.
Quilling for Beginners has evolved into Cardmaking for Beginners! This will now be hosted on July 16th, 9AM – 12PM.
Intermediate Acrylic Canvas Painting has also been moved, and is now August 13th, 12:30PM – 4:00 PM.
We also plan on having Mommy and Me: Jewelry Workshop in September! This will be a super fun activity that parents and their little ones can equally enjoy. Be sure to stay tuned for more!
More updates on these to come! Be sure to spread the word that KAA is hosting more workshops — we want you involved! We have so many fun activities planned for the rest of the year, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Feel free to reach out to us via email, phone, or our site!
I hope you are ready for our second Summer Off the Square performance, Blue Velvet! Blue Velvet hails from Macon, Missouri, and they are ready to bring you Big Band Era Standards.
Blue Velvet is brought to you by our sponsors Sparklight, City of Kirksville, Kirksville Tourism, and the Missouri Arts Council.
See you there at 7PM, outside of the Sue Ross Arts Center located at 215 S Franklin. Bring your chairs for a comfortable viewing experience!
KAA also has open registration for two upcoming Workshops! We are currently offer a Beginner’s class in Quilling, as well as Intermediate Acrylic Canvas Painting.
Not sure what quilling is? Not a problem — quilling is a type of ornamental craftwork involving the shaping of paper, fabric, or glass into delicate pleats or folds. You will receive a beginner’s kit when you sign up for the workshop, and you get to take it home with you when you are done! This workshop is June 18th, and runs from 9AM to 12PM noon.
Our newest workshop brings Larissa Fajkus, BFA to SRAC. Using the top paintings as examples in the flyers, students will learn to hone their artistic skills and refine their brushwork. Students are encouraged to bring their favorite brushes, if they would like. This workshop is June 25th, and runs from 12:30 to 4:00 PM.
Stop by the SRAC to sign up, or call / mail to reserve your spot! Reach us at (660) 665-0500 or kirksvilleart@gmail.com
And of course be sure to stop by our current exhibit – Thank You For Your Service. This is a wonderful photography exhibit featuring military veterans from the area, including 4 WWII veterans!
Know a veteran? We are looking to do this exhibit again next year — give us a call for more information!
Reception is still upcoming, on June 14th, 5:30 – 7:00 PM – Flag Day! Be sure to stop by to enjoy the gallery, partake in some refreshments, and even meet some of the veterans themselves.
Join Amy Posterick in learning quilling techniques that you can take with you into the future.
Not quite sure what quilling is? No problem! This will be a basic beginner workshop, and you can take your quilling kit home with you when you are done!
Be sure to stop by KAA to register! This workshop will be on June 18th, from 9AM to 12 PM. The fee is $50 for KAA members, and $55 for non-members.
Create beautiful works of art with us, and enjoy the great company as well! Limited class size available; please register no later than June 11 at 4PM.
There are lots of fun and interesting things happening here at Kirksville Arts, as well as around Kirksville!
This upcoming Friday (June 3) is action-packed! First, there is the Kirksville Art Walk starting at 4:30 PM. Kirksville Arts is proud to host the Splintered Spool this Friday!
The Splintered Spool creates wonderful works of art in both woodworking and quilt making. They even have their own Etsy shop! Be sure to stop by SRAC while you are perusing the art downtown and check them out.
From the Splintered Spool website
Once you are done seeing the fantastic artwork that Kirksville has to offer, be sure to head back to us for the premiere of our free concert series, Summer “Off” the Square! We kick off our series with Fully Loaded! Fully Loaded hails from Kirksville, and boasts music skills in the genres of 90s Country, Classic Rock, Blues, and Alternative Favorites. There will definitely be something for everyone! Fully Loaded is brought to us this week by Maxwell’s Bar and Grill, as well as Sparklight, the City of Kirksville, and Kirksville Tourism!
Our concerts begin at 7:00 PM on Friday (and every Friday)! We will be located on the lawn next to KAA. Parking will be available in the lot behind the SRAC across the rock alley. Be sure to bring your chairs and refreshments!
Fully Loaded
If you can’t make it to Fully Loaded, no need to worry! Check out our full Summer off the Square schedule here! We will be going every Friday all summer.
Finally, we have a new upcoming Exhibit! We will be offering a “Thank You For Your Service” photography exhibit opening on Friday, June 3rd! Yes, this means you can check out our new exhibit while enjoying the Art Walk and the concert series. The SRAC will be open during the concert, so feel free to stop by!
This exhibit will be running all summer, from June 3rd to August 31st. We will be offering a Reception on Flag Day — Tuesday, June 14th. There will be food, drink, and quilts presented by our Hands of Friendship Quilt Guild. You will not want to miss it!
Take a peek at the map below for more Art Walk information.
Friday, June 3rd from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm! Businesses will be hosting local artisans of all types downtown, as well as offering specials and sales during the event.
This is a free event anyone can attend. Make your way downtown and enjoy our local talent, as well as do some shopping! KAA is joining The KV Chamber of Commerce in promoting this worthwhile event!
If you are interested in joining the Chamber as a business or artist- registration is OPEN!
Businesses may find their own Artist (Ages 16+), or the Chamber committee will pair you with an artist (if applicable)
Space will be limited for those located off of the downtown square. Due to Adair County Courthouse renovations, off-site businesses will be set up in the Bank Midwest Parking Lot.
If artists have a Missouri Sales Tax I.D. they may sell their art during the event!
While you’re downtown, be sure to stop by our Summer on the Square free concert! The concert will be held in the lot next to the Sue Ross Arts Center, located at 217 S Franklin. This will be the new “Square” while the courthouse is under construction.
The opening band for Summer on the “Square” is Fully Loaded! Fully Loaded is sponsored by Maxwell’s Bar and Grill here in sunny Kirksville! Extra thank you to Sparklight as well for sponsoring the entire upcoming series! Fully Loaded starts at 7:00 PM, and it is free to attend! Their style is 90s country, Classic Rock, Blues, and Alternative Favorites. Can’t wait to see you there!
Interested in sponsoring a band (or the entire summer) of Summer on the Square? Reach out to us at 660-665-0500, or kirksvilleart@gmail.com
We welcome seven Truman artists as they present their final capstone project on display at the Sue Ross Arts Center. Seven students will have their work displayed from May 1st until May 6th, with a reception held on Friday, May 6th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
There is a total of 225 hours put into this display by the students! Come visit the gallery in person to see all the hard work up close.
Peek a sneak preview below of some of the amazing work you will find!
Sign up today at the Sue Ross Arts Center to participate in this super fun upcoming workshop! Spend a Saturday morning here with Debbie Burbee and Rita Hutchins learning how to beautifully create your own jewelry set.
Each participating artist will get the opportunity to create a necklace, bracelet, and earring set!
Note: KAA cannot currently take any credit or debit cards at this time. Please be ready to provide cash or check. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Sue Ross Arts Center is now proud to display some of the best upcoming talent from Kirksville’s area High School. Come stop by and take a look at some very talented inviduals!
The High School exhibit will be on display until Saturday, April 30th! There will be a reception hosted by the school on Saturday, April 23rd, from 12 PM – 2PM.
Check out our Exhibits pagefor a small preview of what you can expect to see!
A new gallery exhibit has premiered in our gallery for the month of March! David Garrison is an internationally recognized pastelist with over 50 years of experience. He is a professional artist who has shown his work on three continents. His paintings appear in galleries and private collections throughout North America and Europe — and now in Kirksville! Keep reading below for more information on Garrison and his works.
David Garrison
David Garrison
Garrison has exhibited extensively in both North America and France. His work has been shown twice in China. It was featured as part of a traveling exhibit of oil landscapes. The show traversed Asia, ending in the Grand Museum of Art in St. Petersburg, Russia.
During these international shows, Garrison has earned several very prestigious awards. He won first place in the Hudson Valley Art Association’s annual exhibit in White Plains, New York. Garrison is the only American to ever be awarded the Lead Crystal award for “art excellence” in the exhibition of contemporary artists sponsored by the City of Bueil, France. He was awarded the “Master of Light” and “Master Pastelist” titles by the Societe Pastellistes de France (Pastel Society of France).
Garrison was elected to the American Artist Professional League. He has exhibited in the league’s headquarters at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. He has been asked to teach workshops by both the Societe Pastellistes de France (the oldest and most difficult to be elected to in all of Europe) and the Pastel Society of America (New York City).
His murals are currently displayed in some of the finest hotels along the eastern seaboard, as well as the midwest. These include Marriot Hotels, Hampton Inn and Suites, Hilton Gardens, and Holiday Inns. Some of Garrison’s murals adorn public welcome centers around Iowa. They can be seen in both Burlington and Fort Madison. Iowa’s Governor gave the address at the public unveiling of the Fort Madison mural. His work can also be found in the private collections of some of the leading political figures in Iowa. They have been bought by classical entertainers and collectors of fine art on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
City of the Pope (Pastel)
artist statement
I believe that a painting is not just an illusion in two dimensions, but it is also a moment in life captured on canvas. Painting is a language varying in mood and atmosphere, which is one of the three things I teach in my workshops. The other two are quality and knowing when to bring the painting to an end to avoid overworking the art. If you keep adding to it you lose the beauty of what you originally intended it to be. My workshops concentrate on teaching the artist to tap into their skill, to focus their desire, and to add the techniques and products to their own art to reflect the diversities of life itself. There are two important distinctions to hold close: “Paint what you love and paint what you know”.
I enjoy the challenges of capturing various subjects; not only through the smaller choices but also through how I elect to portray those subjects. Allowing the viewer to interpret parts of the painting is more interesting than if the painting is spelled out for them. I want the viewer to see the use of the medium, the end of the brush stroke, the spontaneity, and the freshness of a new painting. If I can give the viewer an impression of the atmosphere, a sense of light and deep shadows, if I can open their eyes to the simple beauty around us, then I have accomplished a great deal.
Ballerina (Oil)
awards
2014 “Master of Light”, Societé de Pastellistes de France 2010 “Master Pastelist”, Societé de Pastellistes de France 2008 Andrew Marlo Award, Pastel Society of the West Coast 2005 Lead Crystal Award, 19th Salon de Peinture, France 2003 Lead Crystal Award, Contemporary Artists Exhibition, Bueil, France 1998 Hudson Valley Art Association Annual Exhibit, White Plains, NY
bibliography
Stéphanie Portal, “Cécile Houel et David Garrison”, Pratique des Arts, September 2016. 76-80. Alex M Jones, “Bringing a Mood Into Focus”, Southwest Art, July 1977. 70-75. “The Agony and Ecstasy of a Living Artist”, Pastel Society of America, Pastelagram, 2002
publications
“Make Your Landscapes Glow”, The Artist’s Magazine, March 1998. 70-73.
special honors
2013 Elected to Covington International “Who’s Who” for “Master of Light” 1986 Listed in Who’s Who in American Art
Education
1987 BA, Iowa Wesleyan College, Mt. Pleasant, IA 1969 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL (Special Instruction with Bill Parks of the American Academy of Art)
