Gallery Artists
Charles H. Newsom, Jr.
Realist painter and sculptor of wildlife, landscapes, portraits, etc. Born in the “Big Thicket” of East Texas I learned an appreciation of the natural things around us, and the beauty of God’s creation. I was influenced by illustrators and some of the great master painters and sculptors - artists like Carl Rungius, Frederick Remington, John Singer Sargent and others.
I studied art at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where I still reside with my wife Jennifer and my daughters Sarah and Susannah and my son Jordan. I have a bachelors degree in fine arts along with many hours of graduate studies. I have done art all my life but only recently have committed to it full time.
Ronnie Wells
Mr. Wells received a degree of fine arts from Louisiana Tech University in 1968. (20 + years as a professional artist). Much recognition has been given to Mr. Wells as both a painter and a sculptor in galleries and museums across the United States.
He is recognized as one of Americas leading wildlife painters and sculptors. Ronnie proclaims “In painting wildlife, it appears to me, the environment shares equal importance with the subject. I attempt to give each the same attention when composing the painting”.
Kenneth Wyatt
Dr. Wyatt’s ability to paint a diversity of subjects makes his work widely acceptable – landscapes, children, flowers, westerns, portraits and animals. These and more cross his talent and come alive on the canvas. He has painted over 8,000 paintings.
His religious paintings hang in churches of all denominations and in more than 90 countries. His paintings of the horse in western art are considered by the cowboys who know their trade, as the best. His paintings are in oil, watercolor, pencil, pastel and charcoal.
Donna Lamb
Donna Lamb specializes in watercolor portraits of dogs and cats, ink-on-rice-paper drawings and greeting cards of cartoon cats. She studied with watercolorist Jo Taylor for about eight years, has done some graduate work.
Donna Lamb has a B.A. Degree in Art from, Pembroke State University, North Carolina, United States of America.
Bonnie Fyffe Lacy
Bonnie Fyffe Lacy has been drawing since she was a young child, and by age twelve she realized her artistic ability. Whereas her work reflects a beauty of the spirit of life forms in the environment where she lives, it may also have a dreamlike, symbolic quality. She works primarily in acrylic on canvas, although drawing mediums and clay are also utilized as part of her artistic expression.
She is currently making a series of contemporary paintings using a fusion of non-objective with figurative subjects captured in casual poses, with backgrounds which lean toward geometric abstraction. When she selects a subject, she moves toward capturing the essence of that subject. Her painting is a synthesis of personal experiences and feelings for what she knows and loves. Favorite subjects are cats, people, fruits and other still life, and the nature of the field and creek by her home.
Growing up her favorite artists were Andrew Wyeth and Leonardo da Vinci. Later, while acquiring her BFA, she was influenced by the painters Manet, Whistler, Munch and Sargent, among others, and the sculptors Rodin and Donald Judd. Bonnie lives in Nacogdoches, Texas and works in her home studio on LaNana Creek.
Jane Partin
Jane Partin is an artist whose love of the outdoors, wildlife and Labrador Retrievers is beautifully expressed in her paintings. She grew up in Mathews County on the Chesapeake Bay. After four years in art schools and eleven years as a commercial artist, Jane’s full-time business now is painting. I always try to tell a story to express my own ideas. I do a lot of traveling to set up and photograph scenes to paint. Her work is in many private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Her work has also appeared in several magazines, such as The Labrador Quarterly, The Virginian, Virginia Wildlife, Virginia Hunter’s Guide and a book, White Tail Deer. Her prints have appeared in Sporting Dog Specialties and Tidewater Specialties.
She has won many awards in both commercial and fine arts, including:
First place- Urbanna Oyster Festival 1980 and 1987
“Best in Show"- West Point Crab Festival 1984 and 1987
“Top Ten, honorable mention"- Game Bird Stamp Contest, Indiana State Stamp Contest of 1986
“Artist of the Year"- North Carolina Beach Buggy Assoc. 1987
“Best in Show"- Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival 1989 and 1990
U.S. National Labrador Retriever Poster Print, Huron River Labrador Retriever Club of Michigan, 1993 National Show
Jane now resides in Chesterfield County near Petersburg, Va.
Jim Rabby
Raised in Houston, Texas, Jim started painting in the back of his parents’ art supply and frame shop. Jim attended the University of Houston, painting to put himself though school. His reputation grew and soon his work was exhibited in major museums and corporate headquarters throughout the country. He had studies in San Miguel de Allende and The Westheimer Gallery, plus Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Jim lives as he paints - with gusto and aliveness - and it is a continual wonderment about the world that gives him his inspiration.
Rev'd Gary Dixon Hill
Mr. Gary D. Hill was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He attended grammar and high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. For a short time he attended Centenary College in Shreveport. He graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana, in Lafayette in 1981.
Mr. Hill has loved art all of his life while. While in college at Centenary, he purchased his first original work of art, an acrylic of Tintern Abbey, Wales, by artist Drew Hunter. Since then, he has purchased numerous pieces of art.
While on a sabbatical from Christ Church, in the fall of 2006, Mr. Hill lived on St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands for two months. There he met the artist of St. Croix, and, prior to returning to Nacogdoches, purchased many of their works.
“I just had to try my hand at painting.” The decision made, he began lessons with local artist, Karen Lostracco. Initially he tried to imitate painters he admired such as VanGogh and Monet, until his five-year-old granddaughter, Lauryn said, “Don’t paint what’s in someone else’s heart, paint what’s in yours.” That turned out to be lavish amounts of oil paint, energetically applied with a palette knife. Finding a new passion at 58 has come naturally for Mr. Hill.
In February of 2007, a number of his paintings were displayed in the lobby of the Lamp Lite Theater during the production of “Man of LaMancha”. Sarah McMullan, director of the theater said, “This is the most vibrant and colorful show that we have ever had.” While Mr. Hill loves being the pastor of Christ Episcopal Church he said, “Since I began painting, I feel fulfilled and authentically me for the first time in my life.”
Linda Daniels
Dogs, their personalities and their lives, have inspired many of my paintings but the natural world is my main focus, as is extraordinary light mood or color. My preferred medium now is oil but I went through the traditional progression of trying other mediums as do many artists. I started with pencil and pastel - the dry mediums - then watercolor, gouache and acrylic before ending up with the medium of the Masters.
As a self-taught artist I have let life teach me what to paint and how to paint it. Twenty-plus years ago I left the city and a career in advertising and headed for the hills of Northeastern Oklahoma.
I am pleased to be able to say that my view of life has gained me international acceptance. There have been invitations to every major wildlife show in the U.S. and I have worked with three of the top publishers. I have also been invited to Christie’s Wildlife Auction in London and participated in an important show in Hong Kong. I have garnered many Best of Show awards as well as other top ribbons and have been included in the Best of Wildlife Art, a book by Northlight Books for education, as well as the cover artist for a university level textbook on veterinary medicine, and have appeared in magazine and newspaper articles. Ducks Unlimited has again selected my work for their sponsor print program and I have painted for The National Humane Society’s annual Christmas card for the last two years.
But perhaps my biggest honor is just being able to experience the things in nature that I love to paint and I thank everyone who respects and takes care our natural resources so that I can continue to have this wonderful opportunity.
James Snyder
James Snyder was born in Marshall, Michigan. He attended Western Michigan University before moving to Logan, Utah where he attended Utah State University and Graduated with a BFA and MFA degree in art. Snyder came to Texas in January of 1966 to teach at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he taught for 38 years. Professor Snyder retired in August of 2003 and continues to do metal work, paint and draw as well as make etchings and some furniture. “Life is too short to do nothing.”
Snyder has just finished a one man exhibit of his work at the Griffith Gallery on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University. Jim’s work is in private and corporate exhibits throughout the United States.
Doris Lunsford
I have lived in East Texas all of my life. My husband and I have two daughters and five grandchildren. After our daughters were through college and married, I retired from my career as Executive Secretary for a large RV manufacturer. Since retirement, I have been treasurer for my church on a volunteer basis.
One of my favorite pass time hobbies is oil painting. I began playing around with it in 197. It has been one of the most rewarding pleasures I have ever experienced. Painting is my best stress reliever. Through this hobby, many people began to admire them and insist that I sell some. Many have been sold, as well as given away. I still love to paint.
Gary Davis Lang
I was born in the New York suburbs in 1946. I have been drawing and painting most of my life. After an education at the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, I was an illustrator for fifteen years. I then decided on a career as a fine artist, specializing in portraits and trains.
As a portrait painter, I work in pastels, acrylics, and pencil. My work can be found in private collections in the Untied States and the United Kingdom. I really enjoy painting railroad related subjects. Trains, stations, and track crossings represent a dying way of life in some parts of the east coast.
I am not sure what the attraction is in railroading that excites me so. Possibly it is the thrill of following a means of transportation along a fixed route and feeling the drawing of the wheels on the track beneath. There is a certain feeling of a thrill ride to it.
The supreme challenge to me, as the artist, is to paint in a manner that tries to bring together the elements of this “thrill ride”, the stations, and crossings in order to create a sense of reminiscence or nostalgia and the feeling to the viewer, without actually being aboard the train at the moment of viewing the work.
I recently accepted as a member of the International Guild of Realism and participated in their second annual juried show in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was given an award for the best landscape for a train painting.
Hal Stark
Hal Stark has worked with glass for the last 20 years. He started creating stained glass windows initially, but after moving to East Texas several years ago, he began designing and creating fused glass pieces. He has shown in national art shows and received numerous awards. Hal enjoys the challenge of creating works of art in glass and sharing with others the beauty of this art form.
Fused glass art dates from as early as 2000 B.C. It is absolutely amazing to see the color and design that are created - you may find the same shape, but rarely will the colors and design turn out the same. The art of fused glass is a long process, requiring constant case - each firing requires a minimum of six hours, and numerous firing might be required.
Martha Stark
Martha Stark is a watercolor artist living in Woodville, Texas. She has been selected to show in several national shows with many awards to her name.
While living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, she learned to weave and create pottery. Her love of stucco walls and old wood are evident in many of her paintings. She has studies with well known artists and is constantly trying new ways to express her love of color and texture.
Herb Holden
Herb got hooked on photography many years ago when he purchased his first 35mm camera, an Argus C3. The Argus wouldn’t really compare to today’s digitals but it was a start. In the beginning, Herb turned one of his bathrooms into a darkroom and taught himself the business from the ground up. Over the years Herb has owned several 35mm cameras. Like most people, most of his picture taking has been of kids, family, vacations, etc.
Over the years Herb has owned several 35mm cameras. Like most people, most of his picture taking has been of kids, family, vacations, etc. He is now retired and has more time for his passion (photography). Herb shoots with a Nikon D70 DSLR, likes to tweak in Photoshop, and prints most of his pictures on an Epson R1800 printer. He now has his eyes on a larger format camera.
Barbara Ann Jones
Artist, Barbara Jones, was born in Japan and after her father retired from the military she grew up in rural Freestone County, Texas. She has painted most of her adult life while raising a family and working as a nurse. Since retirement, painting has become her joy. Although Barbara is basically self taught, she attended several art classes at the local college and has taken every opportunity to learn from other artists. Kevin McPhearson, David Leffel, Sherri McGraw, Richard Schmid, Jean Chambers and many others influence the way she paints. She participated in many workshops and enjoys visiting museums and galleries to be inspired and learn from other artists.
Barbara enjoys both plein aire and studio painting. “When outdoors, I am awed by God’s beautiful ever changing canvas and am humbled by the beauty we are so blessed to see and experience from the largest landscape down to the tiniest leaf on a plant. It is truly a gift to view the world as an artist.”
The creative process is a passion Barbara greatly and wants to share this with others who view her work. Barbara is a member of the Outdoor Painter’s Society, American Impressionist Society, American Women Artists and Associated Creative Artists. She has won numerous awards in juried shows and has exhibited her work in many galleries.
James Philip Pegg
I have spent most of my life living in the West Indies, and in Belize, Central America. Being the son of an artist, I had my drawing table next to my dad’s. I was four years old then. On my tenth birthday, I was given my first camera and that started me into photography. After many years of experience as a teacher, photographer, printmaker and illustrator, I retired, and have retuned to the fine arts. I have set up my studio doing what I like most.
More recently I have turned to “the vintage look”, as my photographs and paintings compliment each other. My inspiration comes from nature itself. I am enamored of nature, and that admiration has only increased as I age. If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing comes together.
Les Vanover
Les is an acclaimed wildlife painter, having won a number of local and over the state awards. A former resident of Beaumont, Texas, Les now resides in Granbury, Texas, where he works each day in his studio, producing original oils, watercolors, and colored-pencil art.
Les has been an artist over 50 years has spent a goodly amount of time in Europe. He also has served in the army military, been a teacher, coach, and is an athletic enthusiast.
Cal Gaspard
Cal is considered to be one of the most popular realists in Texas. His favorite subjects are found in his adopted state of Texas, having traveled the state capturing its beautiful scenery and rich character.
His art has been collected throughout the United States and Europe, and is found in many private collections.
Adell Sitton
Adell has been oil painting a number of years, and enjoying her hobby to the fullest. She paints landscapes, birds, flowers, old farm scenes, mountain terrains, etc.
Gardening, outdoor work, and just enjoying what mother nature has to offer, is what inspires Adell in her art work.
Jean Hines
Jean Hines began oil painting as a relaxing hobby in the 1980’s. Although the demands of a full-time career and family limited the amount of time devoted to painting, she continued “dabbling” with her paints, taking lessons and attending workshops taught by area artists as often as possible. She always looked forward to retirement which would allow more time for traveling, painting and gardening. When Jean finally retired several years ago, she unsurprisingly combined her desire to paint with her love for gardening and began painting flowers, fruits and vegetables many of which were grown in her own garden. She also enjoys painting landscapes from her travels and birds from photographs provided by bird-watching friends.
Jean currently studies with Karen Lostracco of Nacogdoches, Texas and has also studied with other area artists, including Woodrow Foster, Dorothy Sowell, Frances Ponder, and Virginia Blackmon.
Jean’s love of nature is reflected in each of her oil paintings. She resides in San Augustine, Texas with her family.
Gene Jackson
I am a native of East Texas. My approach to art has varied over the years. I was influenced by some of the American Art Movements of the 1950’s and 1960’s. I was never compelled to develop a “style” in my work. I take past and present day imagery, traspose these into visual forms. As an idea develops it becomes a drawing, print or painting. In some of the art work, symbolism becomes an important part of the work. I place objects where they would not be found in the “real” world. Generally, there are recognizable objects in my work; some have a more realistic relationship than others.
Educational Background
Lamar University
Columbia University
Northern Illinois University