Promoting the arts
New
book on Indiana's artists
features two of area's oil painters
Author Butterfield to sign book Sept. 23 in Madison
By
Konnie McCollum
Contributing Writer
(September 2006) – Two southern Indiana artists
have been included in a newly published book on prominent Indiana oil
painters. Larry Rudolech of Hanover and Judith Lewis of Seymour are
among the 58 artists featured in the book, titled “Hoosier Painters
of the 21st Century” and published by Greenfield, Ind., native
Mark Butterfield.
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Larry Rudolech. |
The author will hold an all-day book signing session from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Madison Art Gallery, 301 E. Main St.
in Madison.
Butterfield, 50, said that although he is not an artist, he has always
been fascinated by art. “I have always been interested in traditional
art. It is the type of art Indiana is known for.”
Rudolech has lived in the Madison area for most of his life. He studied
art at Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, and upon graduation worked
as an art director in El Paso, Texas. He later worked as a printer and
typesetter in Indianapolis before returning to the art world as an art
director in Louisville, Ky. He moved back to the Madison area in the
1990s, where he lived ever since.
Rudolech has had six pieces of his art included in the prestigious Hoosier
Salon Exhibit, and he has numerous pieces on display in various galleries.
His work is on display at the Madison Art Gallery.
Lewis, who has always had an avid interest in art, is a traditional
oil painter best known for her beautiful still life paintings. Her work
has been described as being reminiscent of 17th century Old Masters
with dramatic uses of light and shadows. Her work has a sensitive, poetic
quality with attention paid to subtle nuances.
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Photo provided Hanover
artist Larry Rudolech is |
She has won numerous awards, including several at the
Hoosier Salon. Her paintings have received attention from the news media
as well as collectors. Many of her works are held in both private and
public collections across the country.
Butterfield, meanwhile has a background is in the national music scene
as a promoter and producer. He is the originator of the popular Acoustic
Café singer-songwriter series in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Mo.,
and other major cities. He also works as a sound engineer for national
recording artists and custom makes guitars for many of them.
Butterfield’s work on his book took three years to complete. He
traveled throughout the back roads of Indiana attending festivals, paint-outs,
galleries and other art affairs. He interviewed artists along the way
and looked for those that received “best of show” or other
art awards.
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Mark Butterfield |
“Whenever and wherever I saw a home studio along
the road, I would stop,” he said. He also did extensive research
on artists throughout the state.
His book is unusual in that it is the only book created about artists
who are actually alive. “Other art books are about people who are
dead and whose artwork is hard to find and too expensive to buy once
you find it,” he said. He wanted to put together a book in which
people interested in good art could still find it and afford it.
Another unique aspect of Butterfield’s books is the way in which
it will be sold. It will only be available in libraries, art galleries
and at art councils throughout the state. “That way, I get rid
of the middle man and the buyer saves money,” he said.
There is also another unique characteristic to his sales approach – for
every book that is sold through these groups, $10 of the $42.40 for
the book is donated to that club. So far, that approach has proved to
be popular, since he has been busy with book signings and lectures around
the state. He is already booking commitments through December.
In addition to his September appearance, Buttrerfield may return for
another book signing at the Madison-Jefferson County Public Library
later this winter.
Meanwhile, Butterfield is already working on his next project. He plans
to write another book featuring other types of artwork besides oil paintings.
He is looking at artists who work with watercolor and pastels. He may
also add 15-18 artists who have already died, but whose work should
be included in some type of art anthology.
• For more information about the book, visit: www.WMBMedia.com.