Artist’s Biographies and Statements:  Barbara Cleary and David Gross

Studio Partners Who Paint in a Basement of a Catholic Convent, Kansas 

Barbara Cleary

In 1963, I embarked on my career as an artist. I worked very hard and studied diligently with some of the country’s finest artists that I admire greatly. Whitney and Pike, watercolor; with Pharo, ceramics; Brown, silver and gold casting; William Dickerson (a contemporary of Birger Sandzen) stone lithography; the master printers Montgomery and Vigil, experimental monotype, collography and relief etching; Charles Movali and Alfred Currier the art of Plein-Aire oils. 

I hold degrees from many fine institutions such as the University of Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma University, with additional undergraduate and post-graduate hours from Kansas State University, Southwestern University, University of Wyoming, Louisiana Tech University and the Kansas City Art Institute. 

After many years of exploring watercolor and receiving national recognition and exhibits such as American Watercolor Society Annual at the National Gallery of Art in New York, couple with a 12 month tour, I felt the need for a new challenge.

I have always admired Van Gogh for his spontaneity and rapid brush work, Monet’s methodical study of color and the effect of light and shadow on the landscape. I happened to see a rare exhibit of Nicolai Fechin’s work. Fechin has such a magical combination of freedom and spontaneity with knowledgeable and methodical use of color and value. After viewing this exhibit, my painting came full circle and I decided to focus on painting oil on canvas in the Plien-Aire style. This fascination lead to the study of Fechin and the need to gain as much knowledge as possible of the wonderful work of the California Plein-Aire masters of the late 19^th and early 20^th century. 

“My style” pushes color and the play of light on the American Landscape in the Post Impressionist direction I feel the California Plein-Aire artists might have taken were they still painting today. 

I have belonged to a number of organizations both national and regional. I was a founding member and organizer of the Watercolor Society of Kansas as well as a founding member of Art Images, the Art Center and Gallery of Kansas City (a non-profit organization), a member of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Chicago. 

I have always been interested in Art education for young people. For several years I taught in public school and community colleges. I have directed as well as taught workshops. I am the cofounder of Art Adventures, an educational and working tour for established professional artists.

 I am grateful my paintings have been enjoyed by many fine individual and corporate collectors and acquired by various museums for their permanent collection.

 

David Gross   

 BFA:   Kansas City Art Institute, Painting and Printmaking, 1968

MFA:   Indiana University at Bloomington, Painting, 1970

Scholarship Alumni:   Skowhegan School of Painting, 1969

Studied with:   Wilbur Neiwald, Ben Shawn, Philip Pearlstein, William Bailey and Jacob Lawrence.

 

Mr. Gross’ interest in oil painting developed at a very early age. He planned to be a painter from the very beginning and has always worked directly from nature. In the painter’s own words, “My life work is a journey. I paint to explore color, space and composition. It is a search, an exploration.” 

David pursued a successful engraving career for more than 20 years before reaching the point which allowed painting full time. As an engraver, he created images for The White House, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Martha Stewart and others. 

With more than 30 years of painting experience to draw from, David paints simple, straight-forward subjects in a visually simplified painter:   landscapes, floral landscapes, still-life. “I’ve traveled throughout the United States painting nature, striving for simple clarity and exquisite color.” 

“The Iris Series that I’m currently painting is a natural outgrowth of my plein air painting experience. My first iris paintings were completed as early as 1986 in the deep South. The subject matter has evolved from the more traditional through a progression of compositions and techniques into abstraction.” 

David has gained National and International exposure through the exhibition and sale of original paintings, showing in one-man and group exhibitions, receiving awards and honors. His work has been sold in galleries in the U.S. and throughout Europe by International Graphiks, Frankfort, Ger. Mr. Gross now paints full-time in his studio. 

With a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, an MFA from Indiana University, and subsequent studies at the Skowhegan School of Painting in Maine, David prefers to paint straightforward subjects – landscapes, floral landscapes, and still life studies – in a visually simplified manner, striving for clarity and exquisite color. 

Facts:   David Gross

Date of Birth:   October 2, 1945

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Education:   B.F.A. Kansas City Art Institute

M.F.A. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Skowhegan School of Painting, Skowhegan, Maine 

David’s early life was spent on a farm in Southeast Missouri. His interest in oil painting developed at a very early age. He planned to be a painter form the very beginning. He has always worked directly from nature. In the painter’s own words, “My life work is a journey. I paint to explore color, space and composition. It is a search, an exploration.” 

David has gained National and International exposure through the exhibition and sale of original paintings and prints, showing in numerous one-man and group exhibitions, and receiving awards and honors.    

"I pursued a successful engraving career for more than 20 years before reaching the point which allowed me to devote full time to painting. "

"I have over thirty years of painting experience to draw from but I find each new canvas a pristine world in which to place my marks. There is nothing more terrifying or exciting than this blank space. The only thing I’ve ever truly wished to do is paint --- so, now begins the fulfillment of my dream."