EBENEZER–Artwork by young and budding artist Anderson “Andy” Flanders will be going on display at two renowned art institutions in the United States.
His painting “Portrait of Linda” will be on exhibit at Pastel Society of America’s 46th annual exhibition September 24-31. The portrait of an elderly lady is among 180 works selected from 1,362 entries for an exhibition at Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.
Founded in 1972 by Flora B. Giffuni, Pastel Society of America hosts annual exhibitions at The National Arts Club in New York, which is the premier event for pastel artists in the United States and abroad. The Society encourages artistic advancement through awards distributed during its annual exhibitions and pastelists showing technical acumen and creative use of pastel techniques are awarded prizes for their achievements.
Flora B. Giffuni Gallery of American Pastels was established at Butler Institute in 2004. It is the only museum gallery in the U.S. devoted exclusively to works in the pastel medium. Its creation was a lifelong dream-come-true of the late Giffuni. The gallery offers exhibitions of accomplished pastel artists, group shows from Pastel Society of America, as well as the display of works from Butler’s own prestigious collection.
Flanders (22) said he was “excited and surprised” that one of his works on display at Pastel Society’s annual exhibition will also go on show at Butler Institute from mid-December through January 2019.
The former student of Sundial School and Milton Peters College had his mind set on becoming an architect, but since last year he is considering himself a professional artist. However, he is no “newbie” to the world of the arts, as he was attracted to making drawings since he was seven years old.
“I primarily make drawings, charcoals and pastels,” he explained. His forte is portraits of people and animals. “I make them from life or by using a photograph. I’m also learning to make still-lives,” he said.
Flanders regularly posts pictures of his artwork on his Facebook page. His work drew the attention of master pastelist, fine art painter and portrait artist Claudia Post in Chester, Connecticut.
Post has been living and working in St. Maarten for some time. In this period, she painted portraits of many St. Maarteners, Claude Wathey possibly being the most renowned.
Post liked Flanders’ work so much that she invited him to participate in her atelier and mentoring programme for gifted young adults. The programme provides gifted students the opportunity to work in a professional artist’s studio using the classical atelier as a model. Training in both pastels and oil paint includes classical and academic studies from life, with subjects ranging from portraiture and figure work to still life and landscape.
After consultations with artist Ruby Bute and poet Lasana Sekou, Flanders joined the programme. Since last year, he spent three three-month stints learning various techniques.
Work of his was on display at “A Show in Four Acts” at Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme, Connecticut, from March 9 to April 20.
Flanders does not receive a scholarship. Those who want to support him or want to commission a work of art may contact him by calling tel. 554-4848 or by sending him a Facebook or WhatsApp message.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79792-young-st-maarten-artist-exhibits-in-united-states
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