Featured Artists

BOMH Membership Represents Diverse Art Forms

One of the many wonderful things about the Best of Missouri Hands is the diversity of the membership. BOMH values all art forms. Membership includes painters, glass artists, wood workers, metal smiths, photographers, sculptors and much, much more. This month’s newsletter is featuring two distinctly different artists, both of which BOMH is proud to have representing our organization.

Dan Burleson is a newly Juried Member who creates beautifully detailed and intricate wood pieces. Mary Beth Shaw dazzles with her vivid, expressionistic mixed media collages. Dan and Mary Beth recently took the time to answer a few questions:

Featured BOMH Artist: Dan Burleson

• Describe your art or craft and how you started:

DB: I have done some kind of art or making things with my hands since high school and have tried different mediums. I thought I was going to be a potter for a while but in 1983 I was given a wood lathe as a birthday present. I have been completely and thoroughly addicted to woodturning ever since then.

• How did you “discover” your talent?

DB: I am still “discovering” my talent and my pieces seem to have a life of their own. One technique or process will evolve into something different on the next piece. I try to make pieces that I like and have some passion about making and hopefully someone will see it and it will inspire some feeling in them too.

• Why did you decide to become involved with BOMH?

DB: I have been aware of BOMH for about four years but procrastinated on joining for one reason or another. But it took the prodding or should I say nagging from a very good friend who also is a BOMH Juried Artist Kim Carr to join. If it was not for her I would have waited to be “Juried” too as I was a little intimidated by it and didn’t know if my work would be appreciated. Kim was right as usual.

• What would you say the is the greatest reward that being an artist provides?

DB: It’s like Christmas all the time. When I am working on a piece I never know just quite what it’s going to look like until I am done. I invest a lot of myself in each piece and I think the one I am working on now will be the best one I have ever done. When it is done and I set it down and stand back and look at it I am amazed “I made that”, I love that feeling. Then my mind starts working on the next piece and it starts all over again.

• Are there any individuals who have influenced you?

DB: There are too many to name them all because I try to keep myself open to new ideas and techniques. I try some and they work great and others not so great. A few at the top are some world class wood turners John Jordan, Richard Raffin, David Schweitzer, Bonnie Klien, and most recently David Nittmann and Jim Adkins.

• You have a big family! How have they been supportive of your endeavors?

DB: I am blessed with 6 kids, 7 grandkids, and 3 sisters who love me just the way I am. Most important I am married to Nancy who after all these years still likes me. We made a deal when we got married, “Her house”, “My shop”. It’s an arrangement that has worked out great for both of us and we still make each other laugh at least once every day.

• Where can we see your work?

DB: I will be in Silver Dollar City Sept 13-16 for BOMH Harvest Festival and I do a variety of area Arts/Craft fairs as well as O’Fallon, Clayton, and Ferguson Farmers Market, Bluestem Gallery in Columbia, MO., the Plank Road Gallery in St Charles, and the Xanadu online gallery in Scottsdale, AZ  and from my website dbwoodturning.com.

Dan can be reached by emailing danburleson1@gmail.com or by phone at 636-299-6302.

 

Featured BOMH Artist, Mary Beth Shaw

• Describe your art and your process:

MB: My process is joyful and spontaneous. As a mixed media artist, I experiment with all types of art supplies including things found around the house. I am challenged to use materials in unusual ways such as dry pasta for texture. When painting, I like the freedom of manipulating the paint with my hands and a spray bottle. I often work very wet on wet and use a hair dryer to direct the flow of paint. It is my hope that the viewer will relate to my pieces on an emotional level.

•  When did you first discover your artistic talent?

MB: I have been making art since I was a child but abandoned it in high school. As an adult I had many crafty hobbies but did not really get back into art until 2000.

•  Has anyone in particular been inspirational or helped on your path as an artist?

MB: We lived in Northern California from 1998-2003 and I was lucky to be able to study with Ann Baldwin, who was an abstract painter in the Bay area. She was extremely inspirational both from an artistic standpoint and from a business standpoint. I participated in a Critique Group that she led and that experience definitely helped elevate my painting.

• What is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist, what is the most challenging?

MB: It is incredibly rewarding to be able to focus on my art full time. I am definitely blessed to lead this life. My art is so integral to who I am that I simply can’t imagine life without being able to paint. As far as challenges, like most of us, I have time-based challenges which typically involve balance. I have a lot of things going on, ranging from the making of art to management of a business to developing classes. Keeping all of this balance is probably my biggest challenge. The success of my book, Flavor for Mixed Media launched me into a teaching realm that I could never have imagined. Teaching on a national and recently, international level has been very rewarding as I love to interact and share with my students.

• What do you like to do in your “off hours”?

MB: I like to hike and spend time outdoors with my husband and family. I have 3 Maine Coon Cats who all came from rescue groups. I also like to read and knit in my spare time.

I am also the owner of a stencil business, StencilGirl Products. Our small company is growing rapidly as we now have a number of artist/designers working with us. The products are sold at art stores nationwide and also online at stencilgirlproducts.com.

• Where has your work been recently?

MB: I recently exhibited at the St. Louis Art Fair Sept 7-9, 2012 in Clayton, MO.

• How has BOMH been a benefit to you?

MB: It is really important to have a network of fellow artists such as BOMH and I am proud to be part of such an organization.

Mary Beth can be contacted by emailing mbshaw77@gmail.com.