Meet the Artist: Rhea Diehl
Redwood Art Prize Winner

Meet the Artist: Gavin Hein
Redwood Art Prize Winner

Gavin Hein is a self-taught oil painting artist that has been exploring his passion  for only a few years. He enjoys painting western landscapes and showing people the beauty of God’s creation. His only art education was in high school art class and a lot of practice, and feels he is learning so much from pushing forward.

Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, on a small hobby farm, he started his art journey. Fascinated with weather and landscapes, from a young age with an ailing father, he learned to occupy myself with drawing. Traveling back and forth to California for his father’s medical needs, Gavin discovered the beauty of the West and saw National Parks and mountain scapes.

He tried other mediums, but oil painting is his favorite. Those memories of his childhood, living on the road, and traveling to the West definitely influenced the western landscapes he paints today — with a mix of weather, horses, cowboys, and cars and trucks all in one.

To learn more about Gavin and see his latest works, visit his website:

https://gavinheinart.com/

 

All images courtesy of the artist.

 

Meet the Artist: Linda Washburn Roberts
Redwood Art Prize Winner

Linda Washburn Roberts is a landscape, nature and fine art photographer based in Helena, Montana.   She was born and raised in Southeastern Missouri, in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, and has had a camera in hand since childhood, when she would borrow her mother’s Brownie to shoot snapshots of various family members as often as possible.   That old Brownie and her mother’s Kodak box camera are charter members of her antique camera collection.

In addition to early formal training during the 1970’s, Linda had the privilege of being mentored by friend, co-worker, and professional photographer Vern Feurhelm in Redding, California.   In 2008, she attended the Summer Intensive, Professional Studies, and Advanced Intensive programs at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana.   She is also an active member of the Professional Photographers Association.

Linda continues to challenge herself as a photographer and artist, not only by learning new techniques; but also, by attempting to see ordinary things in a different perspective.  By challenging herself in this way, Linda continues to grow as a photographer and artist.

Linda’s photography reflects her love of nature.  She holds a deep appreciation for the endless circle of nature and life, from the smallest insect and plant to the largest of trees and animals, including humans.  She attributes this sense of connection in part to her childhood on a small farm in the Ozark Mountains where her mother taught her to harvest wild plants for food as well as for health and healing benefits.  This sense of connection and the concept of spirituality in nature has been a consistent influence throughout her life and is reflected in much of her photography.

Although landscape and nature photography has been and continues to be the primary focus of her work, Linda also enjoys photographing human-created objects, as well as humans, from time to time.  Whatever the subject matter of her photography, Linda attempts to tell a story or evoke an emotion with her work.

Linda’s mission is clear when she states: “When a viewer looks at my work and senses that emotion or hears that story I feel I have succeeded as a photographer and artist.”

To learn more about Linda and see her latest works, visit her website: https://www.lindarobertsphotography.com/

 

All images courtesy of the artist.

Meet the Artist: Bret Neathery
Redwood Art Prize Winner

Born in southwest Missouri, I spent my early years surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Ozark Mountains. This natural landscape deeply influenced my artistic sensibilities. A pivotal moment in my journey came when I encountered my first Jackson Pollock painting; it captivated me and opened my eyes to the expressive potential of abstraction. Since then, I have drawn inspiration from artists like Gerhard Richter, Willem De Kooning, and Mark Rothko.

As a self-taught artist, each piece I create is a reflection of my life, a captivating journey of discovery and expression. My art serves as fragments of my experiences, slowly unveiled on the canvas. Through this process, I aim to evoke deep emotions, inviting viewers to connect with my work on a personal level.

I believe that art can transcend boundaries, creating a dialogue between the viewer and the canvas. My hope is that each piece I create resonates with the viewer, allowing them to find their own stories within the layers of color and form.

To learn more about Bret and see his latest works, visit his website:
https://www.bretneatheryart.com/

 

All images courtesy of the artist.