2011 Judges - Escalante Canyons Art Festival
Scotty Mitchell
In 1973-74 Scotty Mitchell attended New York Studio School, New York City, in 1973 Art Students’ League Summer School, Woodstock, N.Y. In 1971 she graduated Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, Italy and was awarded Medaglio d’Oro, Il Tempo newspaper, Rome. Scotty moved from the island of Crete to Boulder, Utah in 1997. “The landscape, which offers different marvels in each direction, has been my subject matter for pastel drawings since then. The incredible variety of form and color and the immense scale which Utah offers have been a joyous inspiration. These works are a celebration of visual delights, all of which have been drawn on site. To me, working on site provides that edge of immediacy which breathes vitality into the work. There is a bonding of the artist to the subject which I hope will bring these landscapes alive to the viewer.”
Scotty is a prominent Southern Utah artist and from 1998 to the present she has participated in one person shows at: Red Canyon Visitors’ Center, Anasazi Museum State Park, Boulder, Utah Oasis Cafe, Salt Lake City, Utah, St. George Art Museum, St. George, Utah and Iron Mission State Park, Cedar City, Utah. Group shows include: Grand Staircase Escalante Nat’l Monument Visitors’ center, Old Town Gallery, Park City, Utah. Scotty was selected by the BLM to make the drawing for the mural at the Cannonville Visitors’ Center, Utah, also selected by the BLM to make the commemorative poster for the opening of the Escalante GSENM Visitors’ Center.
Scotty is a prominent Southern Utah artist and from 1998 to the present she has participated in one person shows at: Red Canyon Visitors’ Center, Anasazi Museum State Park, Boulder, Utah Oasis Cafe, Salt Lake City, Utah, St. George Art Museum, St. George, Utah and Iron Mission State Park, Cedar City, Utah. Group shows include: Grand Staircase Escalante Nat’l Monument Visitors’ center, Old Town Gallery, Park City, Utah. Scotty was selected by the BLM to make the drawing for the mural at the Cannonville Visitors’ Center, Utah, also selected by the BLM to make the commemorative poster for the opening of the Escalante GSENM Visitors’ Center.
Ben Sowards
Formally trained at Brigham Young University, Ben Sowards creates paintings and illustrations that are gathering national attention. The span of his diverse portfolio is unified by the intensity of his commitment to visual detail and a unique sensitivity to the subtleties of human emotion. He loves the preparation, research, and travel necessary to create images worthy of the individuals and themes he strives to represent.
When he is not working on his own projects, he is teaching others how to paint both traditionally and digitally at Southern Utah University, where he has directed the Illustration Program since 2001.
His students have received national recognition from the Society of Illustrators and have found success in the entertainment and publishing industries. He takes great pride in their achievements and looks for any opportunities to help them in their pursuits.
Ben is grateful for the encouragement and support of his family and friends along with the generosity of fellow artists that continue to teach and inspire him.
He and his wife Connie enjoy life with their five daughters and a son in Cedar City, UT.
When he is not working on his own projects, he is teaching others how to paint both traditionally and digitally at Southern Utah University, where he has directed the Illustration Program since 2001.
His students have received national recognition from the Society of Illustrators and have found success in the entertainment and publishing industries. He takes great pride in their achievements and looks for any opportunities to help them in their pursuits.
Ben is grateful for the encouragement and support of his family and friends along with the generosity of fellow artists that continue to teach and inspire him.
He and his wife Connie enjoy life with their five daughters and a son in Cedar City, UT.
Elaine Dillingham
A lover of the Southwest, Elaine Dillingham has lived in Flagstaff, AZ, since 1989. Elaine is an associate faculty member in the art department of Coconino Community College, where she teaches Oil & Acrylic Painting, Drawing I & II, Life Drawing, and Art Appreciation. She also developed and teaches the Acrylic Painting Techniques Workshop. A graduate of Macalister College in St. Paul, MN, she holds degrees in art and English. Elaine never tires of looking at, thinking about, and talking about art. “Drawing is the foundation of painting. And all painting – no matter what the subject, style, or method of application – is composition, composition, composition! Equally important are color and value choices, and technical agility in handling the paint.”
In 1993 Elaine started working with acrylics, and this versatile medium soon became her paint of choice. Contemporary trompe l’oeil is her current focus, and can be seen in her solo exhibition “Articles of Consideration” at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, through September 10, 2011.
In 1993 Elaine started working with acrylics, and this versatile medium soon became her paint of choice. Contemporary trompe l’oeil is her current focus, and can be seen in her solo exhibition “Articles of Consideration” at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, through September 10, 2011.