Artist Skip Hartzell is known in South Florida as "the dog artist" — but Skip's dogs are not your ordinary dogs.

'Raw Dog #1', Mixed materials with Burlap and Concrete, 75 x 45 x 35 inches. And 'Raw Dog Balls', Mixed materials with Burlap and Concrete on Steel Base, 55 x 35 x 24 inches.

Skip Hartzell might be known as “the dog artist”, but Skip’s dogs are not your typical dogs, and Skip is definitely not your average dog artist. 

'Olaf', Oil on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches

The artwork he creates of man’s best friend are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Don’t look for portraits of your pooch or pictures of dogs playing cards, you won’t find them in Skip’s repertoire.

'Dog #21', Resin, Paper, Concrete, 12 x 11 Inches

His work instead captures the carefree liveliness, lovability and whimsy of canines. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties. The artist is extremely passionate about his subject matter and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue no kill shelters.

Visitors in Skip's art studio

Skip is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce. But don’t be fooled by the cuteness of his work — just like real dogs, Skip’s dogs draw you in. 

Happy Collectors of Skip Hartzell's Dogs

All of the work is rich with intricacies of color and technique. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life.

Collectors and art lovers can experience Skip Hartzell's Dogs at his upcoming exhibition during Miami Art Week at Aqua Art Miami fair December 5-9, 2018 taking place at the Aqua Hotel in South Beach.

'Before Dark', Flashe & Graphite on Paper, 76 x 42 Inches

For sales, commissions or more information about the work, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / www.skiphartzell.com

Call For Artists by SaveArtSpace: Video, Motion Art, Short Films and Still Images

Have your art on television commercials in your area or in NYC. SaveArtSpace is seeking video and motion art, short films, as well as, still images. What do you want to see on your television? Inviting artists of all ages & talents to submit! Open Call Ends Nov 5, 2018.

Learn More

Renowned Artist & Illustrator Marianella Arocha 'La Tarula' Creates Charming Artwork, Merchandise and Books

Welcome to the charming world of Marianella Arocha, the beloved artist & illustrator is known as ‘La Tarula‘. Her artwork is collected by adults and children worldwide – loved for her original, colorful characters and delightful scenes. 

She is the proud mother of twins who are her source of inspiration and give her an abundance of creativity to develop her work and designs. La Tarula has achieved remarkable success during her 15 year artistic career, creating countless illustrations and artworks exhibited during Miami Art Week, gallery shows and events. 

The famous Venezuelan artist and illustrator is based in Miami, she recently launched her first children’s book “We 1, 2, 3” at Miami Children’s Museum and Altamira Libros in Coral Gables. Families, caregivers and children gathered to enjoy an exciting book reading of “We 1, 2, 3” and received goody bags and surprises.

La Tarula is known for her adorable characters and colorful visuals that transform and brighten any space. Most recently she added her artwork to the bar & lounge area of the Aloft Hotel in Coral Gables.

The artist creates charming artwork, art merchandise and children’s books that are playful and fun, with her own unique, recognizable style. Marianella discovered her drawing skills by chance. She was self-taught in the beginning, but has completed many art programs over the years and it has been an exciting challenge for her to grow.

In 2005, Marianella studied Drawing and Illustration at the Escuela de Historietas López y Allaco in Caracas, Venezuela. Later in 2016, she completed a Digital Drawing and Illustration program at Factory Arte School in Bilbao, Spain. She also had the opportunity to participate in a Pattern Design workshop at Bilbao Arte. 

In 2008, motivated by her entrepreneurial spirit, Marianella decided to embark on an ambitious and creative project launching her first line of calendars and agendas under the name of La Turula. She began creating religious figures, traditional folk images, and celebrity characters, bringing out their childlike features in a multi-colored stage. Shortly after that she added notebooks and other merchandise into her repertoire, which are still actively being sold in Venezuela along with chocolate labels for a company called Chocolates El Rey, a Venezuelan chocolate manufacturer. 

Marianella has collaborated in many private projects – decorating children’s rooms with her illustrations and designs, personalizing private parties and highlighting several public spaces such as the Pediatric Department of the Perez de Leon Hospital in Caracas, Venezuela’s Metropolitan District; and the Sana Sonrisa Pediatric Dental Clinic in Caracas, as well as other private projects.

During Miami Art Week in December of 2016, Marianella participated in the collaborative exhibition called ‘Stripes and Icons’, exhibiting her series of works “Playing with the Big Ones”, which were made with acrylic and printed on wood for the show. In March 2017, three of her artworks were included in the Wynwood Juried Art Show, Winter Edition 2017 and she was recognized with an award, winning 3rd Place in the Digital Art format.

You can learn more about this multi-talented artist and pick up one of your very own La Tarula pieces today at www.laturula.com

The Remarkable Artist & Designer Sol Gersh

Miami Beach artist and designer Sol Gersh has lived a remarkable and exciting life as an artist, designer and businessman, attending the Rhode Island School of Design and Providence College; Summa Cum Laude. 

The 91-year-old artist was born on September 28, 1926. He is retired and currently resides in Bal Harbour, Florida and continues to create and unveil new and old works at various shows and exhibitions throughout South Florida. 

Gersh was the apprentice to N.E. muralist , Harold Ashodian for 4 years, and Gersh studied 2 years with Jackson Pollack’s friend and teacher Thomas Hart Benton. He was also the President of Allied Artists for many years.

He also won first place “3 City Competition” in Surfside, Florida three years in a row for original oil or acrylic painting and won a painting prize from the Providence Art Society. Gersh most recently exhibited at Cafeina Wynwood‘s Exhibition Center in his show ‘Then & Now, 65 Years of Nurealism‘. 

Gersh coined “nurrealism” to describe the painting of daydreams; the subconscious and delusions of grandeur individuals “see” when eyes are closed, sitting in the sun, or meditating and the artist’s hand is guided by the master force suggested by Salvador Dali. One step removed from surrealism, “nurealism” is both a pun and a Portmanteau.

The artist was one of the founding co-op artists and members of The Art Place Wynwood, which was located at 2722 NW 2nd Avenue in Miami, Florida 33127. 

His works are an abstract expressionist style that the artist refers to as ‘Nurealism’. Stay tuned for more info on Gersh’s upcoming show at the Surfside Community Center this September. This solo exhibition will unveil Gersh’s new series of nautical and landscape, nature-inspired paintings.

Vero Beach Abstract Artist Chitra Ramanthan Creates Elegant & Peaceful Paintings Ideal For Any Space

Painter and arts educator Chitra Ramanathan's unique body of acrylic and mixed media paintings portray happiness as a visual entity through a curious blend of intense colors and a myriad of textural materials that glow in any light and provide a feast for the eyes. Hence they have been considered ideal for display in any luxury venue or interior by collectors and designers alike. 

'Manifestation", Mixed Media Collage on Canvas, 58 x 38 inches

Chitra was invited to interview with Art Link in Boston, Massachusetts to participate in Conversations with Artists and Art Professionals hosted by Joyce Creiger, founder of Art Specifier, who invited and interviewed the renowned painter and arts educator for the popular series.

'Symphony' (2015), Acrylic on Canvas, 67 x 71 inches

Growing up as an award-winning child artist in India, the artist continued her education and pursued a career as an established painter in the United States. Chitra attended the University of Illinois and received her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Painting with honors in 1993, and her M.B.A degree with concentrations in Art Museum Administration and Human Resources in 1997 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

'Joyful Musings', Mixed Media on Canvas, 36 x 60 inches

Chitra's distinguished body of work, many of them large-scale, have been acquired in the United States and abroad, and commissioned as site-specific public artworks by educational institutions and organizations such as MGM Resorts, Las Vegas. 

Untitled, commissioned piece for a private collector in Boston, Mass.
Acrylic, Gold Leaf, Mixed Media on Canvas, 36 x 60 inches

A pair of the artist's signed paintings are displayed permanently in the Bellagio Conservatory at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas since 2004. 

Chitra Ramanathan's Paintings Hang in the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas' Permanent Collection

As an arts educator who has taught courses and workshops in the painting medium for more than a decade, Chitra has been invited to participate in numerous visual presentations of her body of thematic work by institutions within the United States and abroad, such as the Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom at the Royal Academy Schools in 2005, with invitations for professional artist residencies completed in Paris, France 2010, and in Venice, Italy 2012. 

'Ocean Melodies', Acylic on Canvas, 67 x 48 inches

Chitra is a faculty member of the Vero Beach Museum of Art. She is a full-time artist and painter who is widely collected throughout the US and abroad. To learn more about this fascinating artist, for sales and inquiries, or view images of available and acquired original artworks please visit www.chitrafineart.com