February Artist Spotlight – Meet Jenny Schneider

February Artist Spotlight

(Image Credit: Megan George)

Meet Jenny Schneider

 

Jenny Schneider is a mixed media artist and illustrator living in Wellesley and working from her studio at the Saxonville Mills in Framingham.

Tell Us About Your Background

I was born and raised in Germany and moved to Mexico City at the age of 21 where I studied Psychology at the Universidad Iberoamericana. Inspired by the vibrant  Mexican artisan culture and as a way of processing living in a new culture, I also studied art and fell in love with watercolor. In 2003 I earned an MA in Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA combining both my passion for the arts and mental health.  

When my husband was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003, making art became my own therapy and refuge. (He since has recovered and is doing great). We moved to Wellesley in 2010 with our two boys where I found a group of creative women (formerly known as the Wellesley Women Artisans) who supported each other through art and motherhood. Together, we started the event “Art in the Park” that still happens every year during Wellesley Wonderful Weekend. 

In 2023 I moved my art practice to a studio at the Saxonville Mills in Framingham. I have continuously studied various art and illustration techniques at the SMFA, Boston and attended multiple workshops throughout the country. In addition to the WSA, I am also a member of  Concord Art and also work for Art Wellesley. When I am not making art, I love to travel and learn about different cultures.  I am fluent in English, Spanish, German and understand some French. I am also a certified Yoga teacher, specialized in restorative yoga. I also love to bake, enjoy long hikes, and am learning to dance salsa. You will always find me listening to music, audio books and podcasts. 

What is your medium? 

I work as an illustrator and mixed media artist.

As an illustrator I work in watercolor, collage and digital media. I have written and illustrated a children’s book, illustrated a book about Yin Yoga and created a line of greeting cards and calendars, among other things.  My greeting cards can be found online (www.jenny-schneider.com and in select local stores  (Wellesley Bookstore, Constellation, Somerville, Clay Art & Concept, Concord, and soon at Posies of Wellesley)  

As a mixed media artist I work in watercolor, acrylics and collage. I love the fluidity of watercolor, the freedom of collage and the surprise when combining both.   

What is your art process?

“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers.”   ~ James Baldwin

Art allows me to make sense of the world.  I am always curious what the process has to teach me about living and being human. My training as an art therapist influences my creative process. I strive to let go of preconceived ideas and instead trust the process. I tend to have a variety of sketchbooks and handmade journals at the same time that help me process and collect my ideas.  I am constantly inspired by the natural world, the magic of colors and the play of light and shadow. I enjoy finding beauty in the mundane, poetry in a simple flower, playfulness in an abstract collage. Just as I am connecting with my inner world, I hope that my paintings are a gentle invitation to pause, go inward and connect with one’s own sense of wonder. 

I admire the work of Georgia O’Keefe, Ruth Asawa, Helen Frankenthaler and Henri Matisse (among so many others) and love nothing more than visiting a museum and see art in person. 

Past and future projects

Last year I collaborated on an exhibit called “Exuberance” with two other fabulous artists at Project B Gallery. As you can see below, I was fascinated with birds as they keep making their way into my collages and paintings.

 

I also painted a Traffic Box in Wellesley. This was an interesting challenge as I usually paint on a much smaller scale. I hope it offers a little color and fun to people passing  by.  (Image Credit: Beth Shedd)

 

Currently, I am teaching mindful collage workshops which invite people to slow down, and reconnect with themselves (and each other) while making art.

You can find out more about my work and upcoming events here:

Jenny Schneider || Art and Illustration || www.jenny-schneider.com

Instagram: @jenny_schneider

 

Remembering Maris Platais, Gifted Artist and Beloved Teacher

Maris Platais Age 87, of Carlisle, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2024, after a brief illness.  Born in Jelgava, Latvia, Maris and his family fled their homeland in 1944 to arrive in Boston in 1949. Maris was a graduate of the Boston Tech High School. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, he graduated from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Maris’ passion for art became his career, first at Dennison Manufacturing Co. in Framingham and later, his award-winning fine art was featured in galleries worldwide.

Art was his passion from the time that he was a child. He developed a highly skilled visual memory and combined that with his imagination to create exquisite pen and inks, etchings and light-filled acrylics. He was an active and  long time member of the Guild of Boston Artists. In addition to being  a gifted artist, Maris was also a beloved teacher at the Tolles Parson Center in Wellesley and  gave artist demonstrations for local art groups including the WSA. His joy of life was infectious and he will be missed enormously.

 

 

Fritz Kubitz “All About Boston”

WSA member, Fritz Kubitz, recently had a show “All About Boston” at the Guild of Boston Artists featuring some of his iconic paintings of the city. 

Showing interest in drawing and painting from a young age, Frederick “Fritz” Kubitz was encouraged to train as an architect and received his master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a student in the developing city, he was immediately enthralled by Boston’s urban landscape. Upon graduation, the young architect was offered a position at the firm Eero Saarinen & Associates. He would go on to build an impressive portfolio and participated in the design of the TWA Flight Center at the John F. Kennedy International Airport, Dulles International Airport, and the London Embassy. From there, he was offered a position as a Jr. Partner in a large Boston firm where he went on to add to the architectural canvas that lay before him, planning the expansion at Logan International Airport and designing several of its terminal buildings. He later started his own office, designing academic buildings at Harvard and Tufts Universities, and remodeling the old Fenway Theater/Biltmore Hotel to become the Berklee College of Music.

Throughout his education and career as an architect, Fritz continued to nurture his passion for painting, eventually devoting himself to fine art, creating first in watercolors and then in oils. Since 1990, Mr. Kubitz has painted a staggering 2800 pieces. While his subjects come from throughout the US and Europe, his most beloved scenes capture the vibrant and ever-changing cityscape of Boston and the surrounding landscapes of the New England Region. A quote from the American Watercolor Society Summer 2021 Newsletter expounds, “Frederick Kubitz has an intuitive ability in choosing appealing subject matter, plus a unique sense of style, placement, and dramatic use of lighting effects, giving him a much honored place among New England painters.” Often working on location, his paintings present Boston in an earnest, luminescent, natural light that calls back to the admiration he felt towards the city as a student. Meanwhile, his architecture background enhances his compositions with a deep knowledge of structure and keen eye for detail. From memorializing its iconic and historic landmarks to documenting its citizens and visitors in quotidian moments of leisure, Kubitz captures the beauty and energy of Boston’s every corner. All About Boston is an ode to a city Kubitz has dedicated his life to commemorating and quite literally, shaping.

Over the span of his career, Kubitz’s paintings have toured nationwide to various museums and places of exhibition. His work can be found in the collections of many corporations, financial institutions, professional offices, as well as private connoisseurs of art. In addition to being a member and former Vice President of The Guild, Kubitz has served as the president of the New England Watercolor Society and the Wellesley Society of Artists. He is also a Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society and the American Society of Marine Artists as well as a member of the Rockport Art Association and the Copley Society of Boston.

Press release courtesy of the Guild of Boston Artists

December Artist of the Month – Meet Samantha Eio

December Artist of the Month – Samantha Eio

Samantha Eio is a landscape artist and works mainly in acrylic and watercolor. She is originally from Northern New Jersey, and went to college at Syracuse University School of Architecture. She was an architectural designer in Boston for about seven years before moving to Natick, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and goldendoodle. 

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND

I have always loved drawing and painting and wanted to be an artist. My parents both painted at different times in their lives, and they taught us the excitement of making art, using your hands to create something new, and proudly showing your work as an expression of your voice.

Growing up, I almost always had my hands on an artistic project, and that was when I was most happy. Yet, I was concerned about making a living as an artist. So, I went to architecture school to pursue a creative career with seemingly more stability. I will forever be thankful I did. I learned many valuable skills there – problem-solving probably being the most useful. The ability to see an issue in a multitude of different lights and to recognize that there is more than one way to tackle a project is actually comforting. This means there is no wrong answer; many possible solutions and potential outcomes exist. 

While I could be creative during my time in architecture, it was often shrouded in a need to be exact. My heart ached for a chance to create freely without the worry that everything would come tumbling down. And so, after leaving architecture when my daughters were born and staying home with them for a few years, I started finding time to paint again. The more I painted, the more I had to paint. 

WHAT DO YOU PAINT?

I search for beauty in everyday places – often, it’s a forest trail where I like to run or hike, beaches I love to spend time on in the summer, or local outdoor spots I visit often. I avoid painting buildings as I fear I will never get it right because of all the details. And I avoid painting people because that involves detail, too. For some reason, detail has come to equal restriction, and I am trying to avoid that. The places I find most interesting are those familiar to me – those I’ve spent more than a few hours moving through – consciously and subconsciously taking in all the details. When I paint, I am trying to capture the essence or meaning of those places. 

I consider the following questions when deciding whether to tackle painting a place:

  • What about this place might capture someone’s attention?
  • What shapes, lines, or patterns do the clouds make in the sky? 
  • What is the shape of the space of the place? Or what forms do the areas in between objects make?
  • What is reflected back at you in a river, a stream, or wet sand? 
  • How does one move through the site? What else is moving through and around the space – light, air, leaves, water, etc.?

WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS?

Photography plays a huge role in my artwork. I love taking pictures – setting up a shot, finding interesting lines within a composition, and trying to capture light. If I don’t have time to paint but need to be creative, I will go for a walk and take pictures. I use photos for reference when painting. Working from photographs to create my artwork allows me the freedom to paint at whatever speed I need to, to revisit a moment often, and to have a guide – but I don’t find it necessary to paint exactly what’s in a photo. Sometimes, I worry I use photography as a crutch, but it has become integral to my process and how I see things. I have tried working from imagination, but my imagination doesn’t work in the way that I can picture a scene and recreate it. I need an image to keep me focused and remind me of where I’m going with a piece. 

 

WHY DO YOU PAINT?

For me, practicing art is less about becoming a famous artist and more about the need to create. Art is my therapy. These are ways I find art therapeutic:

  • It is a form of expression when I don’t have the words to say what I need to. 
  • It is a creative outlet, a method to stay balanced. 
  • It is a method for healing from grief or working through grief. 
  • It is a form of movement – almost like dance. Sometimes, emotions are so overpowering that I need to move through them – art is an outlet for this.  
  • It allows me to be loud and expressive when I am usually soft-spoken and introverted. 
  • And it is a form of control. When the real world feels too much, I can control the world I create on my canvas or paper. 

When I paint from a place of trying to heal, my work is more moving and authentic. Art is not only therapeutic for the artist but also for the viewer or collector. Nothing means more than when a collector tells me a painting of mine calms them or brings a sense of peace, too. 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NEXT? 

I have a few commissions I will be working on over the next few weeks. I used to fear commissions, finding it hard to connect to the subject. Feeling disconnected from the place I’m painting makes it hard to understand and depict it well. I’m working through this, and commissions are becoming easier to tackle. Also, as life becomes more hectic and there is less time to paint, having commissions gives me a reason to stay focused and goals to work towards. Also, a few of my paintings will be in the Illumination Exhibit at Gallery Twist in Lexington this December.

Samantha’s website

IG @samanthaeio_designs



Remembering Roger Kastel

The WSA would like to share the sad news that Roger Kastel internationally acclaimed artist and WSA member passed away in early November at the age of 92. Although Roger will be forever remembered for his iconic “Jaws” painting, his humble, kind, and generous spirit will endure in the hearts of those who knew him. The art world has lost a great talent and the world has lost a wonderful human being. 
 
Roger Kastel, First Place, “Bluebird” at the Annual Library Show 2018
 
He was also the WSA Artist of the Month in April 2021.

Giving Thanks

The Wellesley Society of Artists would like to recognize the following people, organizations and businesses that have helped us promote the visual arts and artists in our community this past year. They have all provided immeasurable support and we owe them a debt of gratitude for helping us to make art a part of our lives. Their help and generosity ensures that the arts continue to bring us together. 

Wellesley Free Library – Jamie Jurgensen and Cara Rothman

Swellesley Report – Bob and Deborah Brown

Paul Falcone

Wellesley Media

Wellesley High School Art Department-Thom Carter and Brian Reddy

Carl Nelson

Wellesley Celebrations Committee

Wellesley Historical Society – Taylor Kalloch and Peter Mongeau

Page Waterman Gallery and Framing – Sturdy Waterman and Ryan Black

Wellesley Weston Magazine

Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank

Wellesley Rotary Club

Paul Simard

Friends of Wellesley Veterans

Lucy Davis at MarketNext Communications

Wellesley Cultural Council / Massachusetts Cultural Council

Beth Sullivan Woods

Gallery Twist

Zullo Gallery

Massachusetts Audubon Society – Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Windsor Press – Tory De Fazio

A very special thanks to all the WSA members who volunteered to support the activities and efforts of the WSA, and to those who donated their artwork for events that helped to support needs and organizations in our community.

“A Taste of Wellesley” sponsored by the Wellesley Rotary Club to raise money for food insecurity in the community was held in May at Elm Bank. WSA artists donated paintings for auction that raised over $2,000. Many thanks to Samantha Eio, Annie Newman, Yale Nicolls, Judy Noonan, Anna Papok, Yvonne Posa, Nancy Present Van Broekhoven, Brenda Rangel, Mark Richards, Robert Savage, Bobbie Suratt, Nancy Treves, and Brian Wallenmeyer.

The “Paint the Town” plein air event and auction co sponsored by the Page Waterman Gallery and Framing and Friends of Wellesley Veterans was a first time event for the WSA. This auction raised over $5000 for Friends of Wellesley Veterans and the artists. Enormous thanks to artists Bev Barnard, Ryan Black (not WSA member) Joanna Dole, Catherine Gruetzke-Blais, Mi Herzog, Janet Montecalvo, Nancy Present Van Broekhoven, Mark Richards, Peg Runcie (not WSA member), Robert Savage, and Nancy Treves.

WSA’s “Celebrating 90 Years of Art and the Next Generation of Artists” Show and Sale to benefit the WSA’s Wellesley High School Art Achievement Award. Many thanks to the over 30 member artists who particpated, and a special thank you to Dayle Bodnar, Margot Hurley, Nancy Treves and Brian Wallenmeyer whose paintings were sold and contributed to funding this award.

Frederick “Fritz” Kubitz WSA member donated a painting for the Wonderful Wellesley Weekend auction on behalf of the WSA and another one to benefit the WSA Art Achievement Award.

Be sure to go and see the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s “Festival of Trees” which is open November 24-December 30 at Elm Bank. Tickets are NOT sold on site. Get your tickets online. The WSA’s tree “Artistic Treasures” coordinated by Dottie Laughlin and decorated with ornaments painted by member artists: Dottie Laughlin, Dayle Bodnar, Yale Nicolls, Deborah Friedman, Felicia Tuttle, Barbara Littlefield, Mary Forte Hayes, Nancy Treves, Janet Montecalvo, Joan Onofrey, Bobbie Suratt, Samantha Eio, Jodi Traub, Nan Daly, Katherine Fast, Nancy Present Van Broekhoven, Yvonne Posa, Bob Glowacky, Margie Michals, Andrea Rex, Robert Savage, Lucy Sur, Nan Rumpf and Janice Savery.

Thank you all for sharing your time and talent!

Best Wishes for a

Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

 

Missing Great White Shark

If you frequent local beaches during the summer particularly on Cape Cod, it is hard not to be aware of great white sharks. It was nearly 50 years ago when the movie JAWS was released and terrified swimmers, particularly those who enjoyed an evening swim. The iconic image on the movie poster is the artwork of WSA member Roger Kastel. Apparently the original painting mysteriously disappeared in California shortly after winning an award. A recent article in Daily Art Magazine sent out a plea to find the missing painting. So keep a look out for sharks this summer particularly the one in Roger’s missing painting. 

WSA Honorary Lifetime Memberships Awarded to Joan Griswold and Suzanne Lingeman

The WSA board of directors recently voted to award Joan Griswold and Suzanne Lingeman with Honorary Lifetime Memberships. Joan and Sue were nominated in recognition of their  contributions that have helped to make the WSA what it is today, as well as their commitment to creating fine art. 

About Joan Griswold…

Joan studied art at the University of Wooster in Ohio.  Before moving to Wellesley, she taught art in the Philadelphia area, then managed a gallery in Chatham NJ, where she continued to study art, concentrating exclusively in watercolor. Joan and her husband Peter spent 8 years living in Latin America, where she managed an art gallery, taught painting classes, and at the same time, entered and won awards in many National and regional shows.

Upon her return to the Boston area, Joan exhibited with the Copley Society, New England Watercolor Society (where she is a Signature Member), Concord Art Association and galleries in Maine and on the Cape. Joan studied with Nicholas Reale, Tom Hill, Ruth Wynn and George Shedd, among others.

She joined the Wellesley Society of Artists in 1980, and continued to exhibit her award-winning watercolors.  From the moment she joined the WSA, she also  devoted her time to serving on the board, taking on any job that needed filling, from hospitality to new jury, to President. She was our treasurer for many years, keeping the WSA on the straight and narrow.  She gave selflessly of her time and always fought for what was in the best interests of our organization.  Joan and Peter now spend most of their time in Maine now, but her years of devotion to the WSA are immensely appreciated. Although Joan is no longer an active member of the WSA, her legacy remains. 

About Suzanne Lingeman…

Sue has been a member of the WSA since 1977, and continues to exhibit her work with the WSA. Over the years, she has won numerous awards.  She also has been on the board for many of those years, doing various jobs, and always has been the one working behind the scenes, ready to jump in to help with a show or act as an advisor. Sue’s spirit of generosity has been central to the WSA’s endurance and continued growth. 

Sue studied at the Museum of fine Arts.  She also studied with Irmgard Arvan, of Nantucket, George Dergalis, and Maris Platais, among others.  She has exhibited with the WSA, Concord Art Association, Copley Society of Artists, and the Artists Association of Nantucket, where she is an Artist Life Member, having been active there for over 50 years.

Sue works in a variety of mediums, experimenting with techniques and subject matter.  Sue says, “I enjoy experimenting with color and form to create a particular mood.  By using complimentary color, light against dark and warm against cool, I try to create contrast and excitement.  My subjects, medium and techniques vary widely as I find stimulation in exploring new directions”.

April Artist of the Month – Meet Roger Kastel

April Artist of the Month

Meet Roger Kastel

Roger Kastel is a highly acclaimed artist, the product of his childhood dream. As a young boy in White Plains, N.Y., he lived next door to comic book artist Tom Hickey. He remembers going over and watching Tom create a comic book cover with a baseball game on the radio in the background. He thought, “What a wonderful way to make a living.” He began drawing his own comic strips and showing them to his father who painted as a hobby. His father had the good instinct to be very encouraging. As a teen, Kastel used the money he saved up from caddying to take summer classes at the Art Students League of New York.

“Night Visitor”

After high school, Kastel served in the Navy during the Korean War. Upon his return home he resumed his studies at the Art Students League. He started out with very humble jobs to pay his tuition; he swept floors and made deliveries at NYC studios. Later Kastel did black and white newspaper ads for Reddy Kilowatt advertising company. Next freelancing for NY advertising agencies, he was making story boards by day and still taking classes at the League by night. He studied with Edwin Dickinson, Sidney E. Dickinson and Robert Hale. The greater part of his education is attributed to Frank J. Reilly. While still a student, Kastel created a book cover for a contest: this piece became his first published work for Simon & Schuster Pocket Books. Another of his early works won first place for the National Board of Fire Underwriters, a piece which was used for many years.

Early in his career, Kastel married and moved to upstate New York, where he and his wife raised their two children. At this time, he was busy creating covers for Bantam Books and often went in to NYC with his finished works. During one of these meetings, his publisher said “Read this book over the weekend and bring me a cover. It’s going to be a bestseller.” Kastel did a sketch for the art  director with a Sharpie and was told to “do it that way and make it more realistic.” Thus, he created the iconic cover of Jaws and soon Universal Pictures asked to buy the rights to make this their movie poster. The book cover was banned in Boston and St. Petersberg (the female swimmer is nude) and Kastel thought this might end his career. It did not! Soon Lucas Films called from Hollywood and hired him to create a poster for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Kastel has been a highly sought-after artist ever since. He has done commissioned pieces for many art collectors and admirers, including the one shown here of the girl at the piano. This exquisite painting was done for a Connecticut art dealer who focused on American Impressionism. After 40 years of years of focusing on commercial art, Kastel now enjoys choosing his own subjects. Some of his recent work has been inspired by a friend of his who is a bird photographer. The owl shown here and his award winning “Blue Bird” have been painted from this photographer’s work “with a little artistic license.”

 

He has of course done some family portraits. Roger and his wife now have four grandchildren, all of whom they are very proud. When his daughter and son were young, they often served as models for his paintings. They were paid one dollar per hour and, in spite of the great pay, his son was never eager to participate. Kastel did not tell them how much professional models were paid.

“Recital”

Kastel was an active member of the Society of Illustrators, where he has work in their permanent collection. He is currently a member of  The Artist Fellowship and the WSA. He has paintings in private and corporate collections and exhibits in galleries and group shows. He feels privileged to have his work included in the book 200 Years ofAmerican Illustration as well as The Illustrator in America 1860-2000. He currently has the French version of his Jaws poster displayed in The Exhibit on Movie Posters in Paris.