June 2009
The Great Masters of Art
Sheldon Schoneberg
Linda Katzen
Join Illahe Studios & Gallery in June for a colorful double exhibit showcasing “The Great Masters of Art.” Renowned artist Sheldon Schoneberg displays a sampling of his spectacular Giclees, created from his original drawings and oil paintings, along with some original work. Linda Katzen’s collection of vibrant acrylic paintings, “Women of a Certain Time,” captures the intriguing women subjects of the great masters.
Sheldon Schoneberg "Vincent"
Scheldon Schoneberg began drawing at the age of seven, taught by his father Benjamin. “I would redraw horses he had drawn sitting on his lap, or copy his sketches of the popular comic strips such as the ‘Teenie-Weenies.’”
His painting and drawing career spans some 60 years, beginning with quick sketch classes with Murphy at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, and painting in their garden coached by the painter Dan Lutz, using rich pigment over burnt sienna grounds. In the summers, while attending El Rodeo and Beverly Hills High School, a taste for historical and monumental painting began and has continued to this day. While at El Rodeo, he painted the 20 foot Mural Thermopalae in 5th grade. Painting a huge head of Rembrandt at Beverly High began a long road of working with psychological archetypal portraits. At the University of Southern California, he studied drawing and painting with Edgar Ewing and Francis De Erdely. On a recommendation from De Erdely, he traveled abroad to study art in Italian academies and museums, studying the masters in Florence, Rome, and Venice. Returning to California, the next five years were spent pursuing a Master’s Degree in Fine Art at the University of Southern California, painting frescos with Alfredo Zalce. He went on to teach at Hollywood Art Center School, Santa Monica University, University of New York at New Paltz, and the University of Southern Maine. Schoneberg now resides in Ashland, Oregon, where he continues to be inspired to draw and paint local subjects, such as the “Key of C Café,” “Beloved Madrone,” and his Shakespeare series.
“I’ve wandered the western world and the near east, seeking a kind of truth in reflections of light, forms, shapes, peoples, and places – mysterious and plain – loving the western man and woman in ponchos, chaps, vests, plaids, shady bradys, and bandannas – can-can girls, mimes, musicians, mountain men, gypsies, and wenches. I’ve drawn heroically of the religious, metaphysical, myths, fables and facts historical to weave compositions of mystery in fresco and acrylic and oil. I still search for the incorporeal mystery of our manifest lives, and when I touch that shadow of perfection, it’s a gift, a stop in the eternal whirling where one may pause, commune, decipher, assimilate. I love painting and treasure drawing and am grateful others enjoy these images, finding solace, pleasure, insight among the pigment and pastels.”
L. Katzen "Egyptian Goddess"
In Linda Katzen’s collection “The Masters: Women of a Certain Time,” “acrylic colors have been used to attract the eyes, the mind, and the emotions. The paintings generate renewed energy to the viewer. The Masters such as Renoir, Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Manet, just to name a few, created bodies of work that have endured time. These paintings capture women in a certain time and place. Taking these pieces and infusing them with color make the women seem more vibrant and alive. Each has a story ready to be viewed and explored by you.”
Born in Brooklyn, raised on Long Island, and educated in Boston, she is married with two grown daughters. Linda has had a unique and varied career. From high school teacher and film producer to business owner and psychic astrologer, she has always utilized her talent and artistic abilities to enhance her endeavors. Her involvement in charitable organizations spans over 30 years and includes Boys and Girls Aid Society, Alan's House and CASA. Linda has recently focused her energy on painting. Now, working with acrylics on canvas, she interprets the classics, allowing the viewer to see familiar images in a new light.
L. Katzen "Agostina"