News & Testimonials

Apr 29, 2013

Sue Preiss and her One-Woman Show

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

Albert – I’ve been extremely busy with a one-woman show; 21 paintings at the Riverwalk Theater Lobby Gallery in downtown Lansing.  Below is the advertisement ran in three local papers to promote the exhibit.  Also above is the painting for which I won an “Honorable Mention” Award.  The painting was entitled “Santa Fe Adobe.”  The venue was the 41st Annual Art Show and Sale November 2-25, 2012, at the Hope Borbas Library in Okemos, Michigan.  The painting sold for $450.00.

I am also entering a large painting of Lake Huron/Mackinac Island with the Muskeon Museum of Art Next week. I won a Purchase Award for my “Quiet Cove” on the Grand River at Dimondale, Michigan at the 84th Regional Exhibition last year.  The painting was sold to a financial corporation in Grand Rapids.

Albert, I cannot express to you how much you helped me take my paintings to an entirely new and higher level;  the whole experience with you was such an epiphany on so many different levels. I so much look forward to seeing you an Jeanine again.  Jack  so wants to meet the two of you (Jeanine, as I told you Jack is a huge baseball fan, and I told him about your father).

Again, Albert, you are very special to me, and I so look forward to seeing you and painting together!

Sue Preiss

Apr 16, 2013

Testimonial from Doug

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

Dear Albert,

I am pleased to report that I have received 1st Place for my pastel “Reflections” at the National Audubon Society Mill Grove Art Show. The show is in this amazing rustic stone barn and it is attended by Society members nationally and by many people in the area. The show will run to the end of April.

At the end of April I will also be a featured artist for the GNAL Art Trail. My home and studio will be open Saturday and Sunday for people to come in and tour. I have done this before and I get about 80 people over the two days and I sell 20 – 30 paintings. I am also teaching a series of Plein Air classes for my local art league. As I help students at the easel or do end of day critiques I often think of your comments over the many years I have studied with you. Helping students resolve their paintings has taught me about resolving mine. I will send in a separate e-mail my last demo painting called “Spring at Last”.

Thank you Albert for your friendship and so freely sharing your amazing art vision. I have grown so much as an artist working with you. You have given legs to my desire to paint and teach. Oregon will be amazing this August!

Attached is the painting.

Love and gratitude,
Doug

Apr 9, 2013

Testimonial from Bill Buss

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

Dear Albert,

Following participation in the 2012 Paint-A-Long in Santa Fe, I submitted 3 pastels for consideration for the New Mexico Pastel Society’s 21st Annual Pastel Painting Exhibition. Two paintings were accepted, and to my surprise and delight, ‘Taos Stream’ won an award under the generous sponsorship of Pat Berrett, Photographer, and Artisan/Santa Fe. The inspiration for Taos Stream came directly from earlier exercises with you at the Taos Paint-A-Long.  I feel these intense painting experiences, under your guidance and in the company of the other superb artists attending, have been seminal in whatever progress I’ve been able to make.

Thank you Albert, for your mentorship and unflagging encouragement!

Best regards,

Bill Buss

Jan 31, 2013

Testimonial from Kalamazoo

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

Dear Albert,

Thanks for the recent e-mail. I especially enjoyed your little write up about your experience at Grand Marais, Minnesota. I had put $200.00 down in October prior to that paint along the following fall, but then gas prices went up and my budget did not allow me to make the long trip from Kalamazoo, Michigan, so I was forced to cancel. All of these years since, I’ve have dreamed about what might have been.

I was fortunate to have viewed your one man exhibition at Youngstown, Ohio which occurred about that time and I was almost put into a trance as I gazed upon the work! There are a very few of my colleagues left from the Kalamazoo Area Pastel Society who still reminisce about the three day workshop you gave here in Kalamazoo at Nazareth College about 33 years ago. At that time you were living in NY. You actually came to my studio at that time when you were in town, since I was one of the key people organizing that event. I tell my students that Albert Handell actually stood at this easel. They are impressed, of course.

I continue to paint in pastel, do some teaching (but always feel like I don’t know much, especially as I learn more about my favorite medium which I have been using since I was in grade school; I will be 70 in February). I plan to live to be 100 so maybe we can make a deal: you live to be 100, offer a paint along reasonably close to Kalamazoo, and maybe we can meet again!

I offer you the best: good health, longevity, happy painting and best of luck with your new found love!

P.T.
Kalamazoo, MI

Sep 17, 2012

Paint the Lake -Trail at Burnt Mill Beach by Patricia Rose Ford

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

“Hi Albert, just wanted to let you know about my recent 2nd place award, at a Paint out in Lake Arrowhead, CA, last weekend.  I wanted to paint these tree’s with all the little bare limbs along their trunks.  They really reminded me of tree’s you might select.  I tried to remember your recent advise to me, to minimize my whites in the paintings, and  I do think this has helped me of late.   I always benefit from my time with you at the mentorships, and last month in Fort Brag, was very beneficial to me.  Thank you for your onging encouragement, and I really appreciate that you recognize my strengths and weaknesses, and help me overcome my weaknesses with my strengths.   Attached is a image of my painting from the Lake Arrowhead “Plein air paint out, “Paint the Lake” – ” Trail at Burnt Mill Beach” 12×12 plein air pastel.” – Pat

Jul 9, 2012

2012 Santa Fe Mentoring Workshop by Beth Cooper

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

What a great week we had together in Santa Fe!  Thank you, Albert for your wisdom and sharing your gift with us and thank you to Jeanine for being our “mom” for the week! You all are both wonderful hosts!

Here’s a link to some my pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emc28/

Beth Cooper

Jun 19, 2012

By the Creek by Patricia Rose Ford

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

By the Creek is a plein air pastel, 8×10

Albert, I won Best Pastel, with the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, at the paint out in Ruidoso, NM this May 2012.

Patricia Rose Ford

Mar 6, 2012

Tucson Workshop Experience by Cathy McFarland Harvey

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

I have just completed a four day workshop with 12 other students at the Tucson Art Academy with Albert Handell.  I am so energized.  It was a expansive artistic experience.

The first morning we met at the Academy studio and  Albert laid out the plans for the four days.  Four days packed full of learning and experimenting.  Albert shared with us some basic principles that he follows such as– Value matching, hard and soft edges, pastel box layout, and so forth.  Over lunch we talked about his travels and background training.   That afternoon we went to the Southwest painter’s, DeGrazzio, former home and museum nestled in the Catalina foothills.  Albert worked with each of us individually as we chose a site and began painting. Most of us were pastel painters with a few oil painters.  In late afternoon, we gathered  around for a critique of our work.  Albert zeroed in on our strengths and gave excellent criticism.

The next morning we met early in the studio for an oil painting demonstration,  again emphasizing, color and composition.  That afternoon we headed for Catalina state Park looking eastward at the Catalina’s.  We  painted for a few hours followed by critique.  In the evening  we brought examples of our previous works for Albert to assess and give suggestions for improvement.  He again zeroed in on our strengths and really urged us to work to our strengths. Albert shared a slide show of many of his paintings and the techniques used in painting each painting. The next day Albert gave a pastel demo and we headed again for DeGrazzio’s studio.

The last day we met early in the morning at Aqua Caliente State Park where we painted along with Albert as he mentored us in our compositions and techniques. The spot was an oasis in the desert and we certainly enjoyed basking in the sunshine with incredible views of mountains and water.  That evening we gathered for a goodbye dinner at a local restaurant.  We all were so upbeat and  thrilled by the terrific experience we had with this master painter.

Cathy McFarland Harvey
Oro Valley, Arizona

Dec 30, 2011

India in Repose by Emily Hirn

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

India in Repose - Oil on canvas, 20″ x 16″ •  Jury’s Favorites Award, August 2010

by Emily Hirn
Atlanta, GA

Dec 30, 2011

Prairie Creek Redwoods by Mickey Theobold

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • Comments Off

This pastel won an Award of Merit in the Signature Members Only Show held recently by the Sierra Pastel Society at the Artspace Gallery in Placerville, California.

Mickey Theobold

Mar 30, 2011

Sandy Bonney, Signatures Gallery

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

Your portrait won first place in the Pasadena Materials and Supplies Expo: ART! It was also juried into the Pastel 100 Competition and got an Honorable Mention in the Figures and Portraits Category. It will be in the April 2011 edition of the Pastel Journal Magazine.

Sandy Bonney
Brookings, OR

Mar 29, 2011

Both paintings have been sold! by Jane Christie

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

Jane Christie received the Armstrong Award for her painting The Homestead ® at the Mile High International 2010 Exhibition sponsored by the Pastel Society of Colorado in September. She also won 4th place for her painting The Beauty After (L) at the International Association of Pastel Societies 17th Annual Web Show now on their Website.

Both paintings have been sold!

Jane Christie
Golden, CO

Mar 28, 2011

Patricia Rose Ford

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

Attached are the paintings of my recent accomplishments since joining your great Mentorship Paint Along programs. I feel I have benefitted greatly from the mentorship and your guidance and advice, which has helped me achieve these recent accomplishments.

Patricia Rose Ford
Pastel Society of the West Coast, Signature Member
Women Artists of the West, Signature Member
Loma Linda, CA

Mar 26, 2011

Sunflower by Ivadell Marie

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

I just started entering some shows, and one of my landscapes was juried into the Colorado Artists Guild “Artists of Colorado show, Oct. 2010, Alpine Fine Art Center in Denver. The attached painting , 21 x 27, is in the AUM Framing and Gallery show…I was invited to enter this show (that was especially nice).”

For just starting in May, I’m feelin’ good!

Ivadell Marie
Colorado

Mar 25, 2011

On a Rainy Day by Kathleen McDonnell

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

Pastel, 12×16

I have taken 2 workshops from you and 3 mentoring programs. After each workshop or mentoring program I always did very well. You are a great inspiration. I always have something you said to me in the back of my head when I am painting. When I felt like I was not getting any place with my painting I got an Albert ‘fix’ which was another workshop.

In 2010 I have been juried into two National shows, the CT Pastel Society’s Renaissance in Pastel 2010 and the Pastel Painter’s Society’s For Pastels Only On Cape Cod . I received “Best of Show” at the Buffalo Niagara Art Association’s Fall Exhibition.

Kathleen McDonnell
Glenwood, NY

Mar 24, 2011

Elizabeth Rhoades

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

All of these accomplishments are due to my having studied with you in Concord, MA….The paintings were done using Albert’s matching values theory and a very light ‘touch’ over the under-painting. I love being able to express myself so rapidly and with such a conservative amount of pastel on the paper.

Elizabeth Rhoades
Stafford Springs, CT

Mar 23, 2011

Brenda Siegel

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

I was in Taos, New Mexico this fall for a mentoring paint-along with Master Artist Albert Handell. On the Edge (pastel, 9″ x 12″) was painted en plein air. The sunlit adobe situated close to the colorful cliff was what inspired me to paint this.

Brenda Siegel
Thompson’s Station, TN

Mar 22, 2011

Monk Tree by Doug Tweddale

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

My winning painting…is a pastel with a watercolor background. I painted it in my back yard on a spring day. I was drawn to the shape of the tree and the light of the sun on the cherry bark – it shimmered. When I finished the painting I saw what looks like a monk in a robe in a processional- so I used that for the title….

Doug Tweddale
North Wales, PA

Mar 21, 2011

Tom Weinkle

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

Tom Weinkle
Coral Gables, FL

Mar 19, 2011

Between Storms by Enid Wood

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

I had two openings last weekend… the opening of the 19th Annual National Juried Exhibition of the Pastel Society of NM. I had one painting in the show, Leaning Aspen. … (Also) the Austin Pastel Society Members’ Show at North Hills Gallery in Austin. Between Storms (R) won First Prize…The same painting was rejected for the Juried Members show last spring.

Enid Wood
Bastrop, TX

Nov 1, 2010

Painting with Albert Handell

by Albert • Good News From Mentoring Artists • 0 Comment

Woods Interior ® received an Honorable Mention at the Laumeister Fine Art Competition at the Bennington Center for the Arts. Show dates: August 14 through December 19, 2010.

Woods Interior was painted on location on Kitty Wallis- Belgium Mist (grey) sanded pastel paper dry-mounted onto 100% museum rag board. I started the pastel with a watercolor under-painting. Yes- watercolor can be applied to toned papers with amazing results. The w/c under-painting helped me pitch the tonal harmony for the colors of the interior of the woods. Pastel was applied to resolve the work. Parts of the finished pastel have the original w/c washes showing. Other parts are pure pastel. And still in other areas there is a mixture of the part-pastel and part-watercolor. I have always found using the mixed media technique on toned papers very special.