"Dog Artist" Skip Hartzell Explores the Movement, Form and Energy Embodied by Man's Best Friend

 

"Dogs are always in the moment," said Skip Hartzell. "Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions and sentiments."

Sculpture 16 x 16 x 12 Inches, and 'The Muse Returns' (2018) Mixed Media on Paper, 53 x 48 Inches.

The recipient of a BFA in Sculpture and an MFA in Painting, young Hartzell taught high school students for two years while continuing his creative studies at the University of Iowa. Shortly thereafter he relocated to Chicago, Illinois with the intent to pursue art full-time. After struggling to make ends meet as an artist, Hartzell began doing freelance illustration work which led to a successful 35-year career in advertising and marketing. 

'Night Walker', Flashe & Graphite on Paper, 55 x 93 Inches.

It wasn’t until Hartzell retired from his distinguished career that he returned to creating his art full time. The most meaningful of his inspirations was a longstanding and deeply embedded love of dogs.

 'Whitey', Oil & Graphite on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches.

Hartzell's 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 — from paintings, sculptures, works on paper to installations. The artist is passionate about his subject matter and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue no kill shelters. 

'They Think We Are Crazy', Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 Inches.

Hartzell has several shows and exhibits lined up in the next coming months, his first show on the horizon will take place during Art Basel Week at Aqua Art Miami December 5-9, 2018 Room 124 at the Aqua Hotel. Aqua’s unique environment has become a favorite gathering spot for collectors, curators and art lovers to discover fresh talent and acquire new works while exchanging cultural ideas and forming meaningful connections.

After Miami Art Week the artist will be exhibiting at Art Palm Beach January 16-20, 2019. The fair is celebrating it's 22nd Edition, taking place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center - it is the largest art fair in the Palm Beaches dedicated to contemporary, emerging, and modern works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Video, performance art, art installations, and new technologies have become unique features of the fair offering collectors exposure to today’s emerging art trends.

'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.

With another exhibition taking place February 9 through March 9, 2019 when Skip Hartzell exhibits at The Box Gallery at 811 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. 

"Guests will enjoy the inventive depictions of man’s best friend 'feel good' exhibition, where the passion of the artist and the love of dogs in unlimited configurations are joined in his paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures to make a fascinating presentation of pictures with an obvious aristocratic appearance and a recognizable theme at The Box Gallery," said curator Rolando Chang Barrero.