TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Miniatures Shown; Artist Lauded

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHERYL KUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2009

During the 1700s, miniature painting was a premier expression of the arts.

With the advent of photography for the masses and other means of reproducing fine art, the time-consuming work of creating small, detailed original art waned.

Life, as well as and art, began to be painted with a broader brush.

Today we are seeing a resurgence of interest in one-of-a-kind masterful artwork with emphasis on detail.

Through Sunday, art lovers can see more than 800 works by the finest calligraphers, painters and sculptors working in miniature art today.

The Miniature Art Society of Florida presents the 34th annual International Miniature Art Show at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd.

The judge, Lois Salmon Toole, is an award-winning miniature artist on the international scene, with work featured in 10 publications.

She refers to the show as "a gourmet feast for the eyes."

Toole chose a still-life oil on Masonite painting titled "Red Pears and Basket" by Jane Mihalik of Taneytown, Md., as best of show.

As her second choice, Toole selected a oil-on-ivorine painting titled "Frutta E. Verdure Fresche" by Riverview artist Judith E. Johnson.

Originally from Canton, Ohio, Johnson moved to Brandon in 1972 and later to Riverview. She attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and the Hillsborough Community College Brandon campus for printmaking.

Johnson has worked for many years to raise awareness about miniature painting in Hillsborough County.

When she began painting, she was the only Hillsborough County miniaturist. She also created groups of miniature art professionals - including a group of weekly painters that formed the Paint Box Studio Artists and exhibited at the Center Place Fine Art and Civic Association in Brandon in October.

Johnson also teaches oil painting classes at Center Place.

Johnson has been a member of the Brandon League of Fine Arts since 1973 and says she has held every office in the league - with the exception of president.

She now is membership chairwoman.

Her many activities include membership in the National League of American Pen Women.

She has held the offices of first vice president, program chairwoman, treasurer and membership chairwoman for the league.

As a board of directors member of the Miniature Art Society of Florida, Johnson has served in the positions of awards and invitation chairwoman.

She also is an active member of the Miniature Artists of America and Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington.

In a surprise ceremony Jan. 19, Miniature Art Society President Robert Fritz presented Johnson a lifetime society membership.

Of her award in Dunedin and her lifetime society membership, she said, "I am thrilled to have received the judge's second choice, and so honored by the presentation of life membership.

"Painting and involvement in the arts is a true labor of love for me," she said.

The Dunedin Fine Art Center gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for people 65 and older and $4 for people 6 to 18. Miniature Society members and children younger than 6 are admitted free.

For information, call (727) 298-3322 or go to www.dfac .org.

Cheryl Kuck is a media member of the Greater Brandon Arts Council. She can be reached at wkuck@tampabay.rr.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT