FOUR ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS FEATURED IN NOVEMBER
McKinney, TX – Aristeia Gallery is delighted to feature noted portrait artist, DeDe Barr and three of her very talented students for the November Second Saturday event. Patricia Hanszen, Tawni Hodge and Lois Nightingale are all accomplished artists in their own right, and share a commonality of being long-time art students of Ms. Barr.
DeDe Barr, a former McKinney resident, now living in Dallas, has distinguished herself as a much sought after portrait artist, among whose clients include former presidents,
U. S. senators, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries as well as noted sports figures. In addition to oil portraits, Ms. Barr creates portraits in graphite and has illustrated children’s books. Among Ms. Barr’s most recognized pieces are the official portraits of former president, Lyndon B. Johnson and that of Dallas’ own, Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated WWII hero.
On Saturday evening, Ms. Barr will have sample commission portraits and some of her current works on display at the gallery and she will be on-hand to greet guests and answer questions regarding her work.
Although Dallas native, Patricia Hanszen, pursued a career in business she always pursued her love of art through independent study and exposure to the influences of the country’s finest artists. While living in Boston and New York, Patricia’s love of realism developed and her subjects ranged from still life and florals to capturing the beauty of New England’s landscapes.
Patricia says that her strong influences in art have been Richard Schmid, impressionist, John Asaro and she remains a great admirer of John Singer Sargent. Patricia says that “beautiful art touches something much deeper within me” and she is now painting full-time while continuing to study under various well-known artists including DeDe Barr.
Growing up in Allen, TX, Tawni Hodge attended Baylor University, UNT and Texas Women’s University, where she received a degree in Fashion Design with a minor in Fine Art. It appears she was destined to be an artist, as she began her career in the fashion industry and her current career is in interior design, owning and operating a free-lance design business in Sherman. Tawni says that “through clothing and bare interiors”, she has been “painting for years with fabrics and furniture.” Several years ago she discovered a group of artists, taught by DeDe Barr and was inspired to pick up a brush and paint on canvas, Tawni says that “DeDe has given me the direction and skill and my fellow students have made the journey joyful.” Tawni photographs her own references for her paintings, including those for portrait commissions.
Prior to moving to the Dallas in 2001, Lois Nightingale enjoyed a successful career as an Art Director and Designer in the Washington, DC area. Lois says that she has “always been drawn to the decorative arts, fine art and portraiture”. With her husband’s transfer to Dallas in 2001, Lois was afforded her the opportunity to pursue her desire to paint.
Several years ago Ms. Nightingale began studying oil portraiture with DeDe Barr. A memorable part of this study included an extended visit to Italy in October of last year. She continues her study with DeDe and is accepting commissions for portraits. Lois and her husband have a successful manufacturing business in Ennis, TX.
