Summer Colors, now in its 11th year, was an idea born out of passion for both art and the patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Founded in 2009 by Jenny and Loren Koziol, this silent art auction raises awareness about the hospital, while also exposing the Dallas community to up and coming local artists. Each year, local artists donate original pieces of art to be featured in the auction, with all the proceeds benefiting our hospital. Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to all of the artists. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, July 25, at Scottish Rite for Children. 

Abigail Law

Abby Law is an 18-year-old, award winning artist from Dallas. Her main focus is photography and she currently runs her own small photography business.  Aside from that, she also enjoys working in the fields of game development, music composition, special effects makeup, and sequential art. As of this Fall, she will begin her studies at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to pursue her artistic career.

Abby is also a former patient at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Diagnosed with Scoliosis in 7^th grade, she wore a back brace for a year and a half before it was determined that she needed surgery to correct her spinal curvature. Since her surgery, Abby has been determined to give back (no pun intended). She held three annual art shows with the proceeds benefitting Scottish Rite and was able to present checks to the hospital during her visits with Dr. Sucato. Abby is honored to be selected to participate in Summer Colors for her third consecutive year because she feels it is another opportunity to show her love and respect for Scottish Rite. 

ALLYSON HALL

Allyson Hall happily tabled her career as a journalist for the adventures of motherhood almost nine years ago. Four babies later, the youngest finally on board the “potty train,” she finally figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up. Allyson followed the pull to turn her creativity into a professional pursuit that excited her every day. It started with photography. She loves capturing the unexpected moment, the unposed expression on faces. Her Nikon is like a fifth child -- it goes everywhere with her.

About face silhouettes is an extension of Allyson's passion for photography, a new use for the thousands of .jpgs that were building up in her photo library. She was looking for a fresh medium to capture the images of her children and remembered the great black and white silhouettes of Allyson as a kid.

By first photographing her subjects’ profiles, she has a fixed moment from which she can trace a detailed silhouette. Allyson takes her time, putting great care into precisely cutting the slope of a nose, the pout of the lips or the curl in the hair. This is what sets an “about face” original apart from many other silhouettes. The greatest compliment she has received comes from clients who say they can fill in the rest of the silhouetted face’s features with their mind’s eye. 

Allyson uses sturdy colored cardstock to give her silhouettes a modern vibe and to provide her clients another opportunity to express their individuality. So that’s what Allyson is about. She hopes that her work adds a splash of color to your walls and makes you smile. 

DESMOND BLAIR

Desmond is a Dallas based 2D artist that specializes in oil painting. Desmond experiments with various types of composition but most of his work centers around the human figure. He attempts to capture the emotion of specific moments and is heavily influenced by 2D animation. Desmond also channels the creativity from his art work into his work as a Project Manager for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. He believes creativity is just as much about solving problems as it is exploring possibilities.

Inspiration: Family, mentors, friends and I also find inspiration from people I meet. I feel that people are passion because people carry stories with them that can have so much wisdom and opportunities to learn more about life.


 

KATHLEEN MEKAILEK 

As an artist, I tend to draw inspiration from the land around me. I see the beauty in an abandoned well, a piece of sand, a damaged tree. I believe the world is a place of beauty and want to bring my interpretation of this for others to see. I try to capture beauty in rustic and abandoned places and want to seize moments in time before they are lost forever. I believe that by bringing attention to things that are often overlooked or taken for granted, others will have their minds opened and appreciate the special world they are surrounded by every day.

Leida A. Bartmess 

Constantly pushing the edge, LeidaB presses in her work for discovery and celebration. Her compositions are fluid, with color and dimension setting the pace for a unique painting every time with a new journey. Viewing a LeidaB painting is a rich experience that drips with color and emotion. Her passionate works are alive with movement, boldly created with brushes and a palette knife. She loves working with acrylics, heavy mediums, resin and found objects, dramatically transferring her vision to the canvas and ultimately on to the viewer.

My inspirations come from JD Miller and my mentor is Cynthia Chartier.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Catherine Seals

Catherine is inspired by colors and the moods that they create together. Raising three small children can by exhausting, but at the same time gives her energy and brightness to her art work. 

HELEN GREEN

Helen Green’s work was described by a local Dallas store as “simplistic beauty with light and airy colors that will add a touch of summer to any room”. Raised in Boerne, Texas under her mom’s easel, Helen has developed her graceful style, which has caught the attention of area stores, cafes and followers on Facebook site called GraceFilledNestTumblr.com

Her education began at the University of Texas but chose to graduate at the Art Institute of Dallas. She left the stressful corporate world environment after beginning her career in a high-end specialty store in the visual communications department and ending as a senior art director for a national retailer. Now she finds true joy and peace as a stay at home mom with her precious 6-year-old daughter where she takes time to paint in her studio.

She also has mini art camps from home to encourage children to find joy in painting during a two hour session. Each with devotion, inspiration and snacks. They leave with their painted canvases and a smile! Facebook site called “Grace Filled Nest Mini Art Camps” 

Sweetly rooted in her faith, Helen is moved daily by the beauty that she sees in the world through the eyes of the LORD. It’s amazing the following that she is blessed with in like-minded people and others that recognize a still small voice in her work. 

Helen Doty 

I was born and raised in Manchester, England. As a teenager I lived with my parents in Singapore for 4 years, before moving with them to Chicago IL. I was working as a computer programmer when I met my husband. After marrying my American, we moved down to Texas, where we have lived happily for over 10 years. We are now raising our two daughters here in Frisco, Texas. I have only been painting for a year. Purely for just the pleasure of creating at first. Then as gifts for friends and family. I am excited to have just sold my first commissioned piece!

Inspiration: I get my ideas by chatting with the person that is looking to add something to a space or room, with photos, or a certain color palette.

 

Lydia Abigail 

Lydia Abigail is best known for her attention to detail in all work she produces. Although she began in detailed sketch work, she now primarily focuses on her impressionistic and colorful paintings. Lydia lives and works in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, also the place she began as an artist. After minoring in art and winning the TCC Art Department Award in 2014, Lydia continued her artistic education through self-instruction. Lydia has displayed in numerous local businesses since then, including the Texas White House, The Laughing Willow, Dance Culture’s Gallery, and the Dallas Kohler Signature Store, for which she painted a claw-foot bathtub. Her work has been featured in Fathom Magazine, Breathe You In, and Art House’s Visual Showcase. Lydia plans on continuing to strengthen her craft through discovery, experimentation, and working with local & national galleries and businesses. Inspiration: Lydia is mainly inspired by the movement of music and the texture within nature. Her oil paintings attempt to emulate the vibrancy and life that surrounds her.