Folk Art Paintings

Artist Comments
A young woman stands on the beach, a red flower adding a touch of whimsy to her pink bikini. Bold lines outline her figure as stylized waves crash behind her....

Artist Comments
Artist Johansen Newman shares a portrait of an older woman in a chic floral dress and fishnet stockings. In a deep blue Mid-Cen...

Artist Comments
"Rosemary and her cat dad need one another to feel completely relaxed," says artist Jessica JH Roller. "Both are so gentle, so kind and if her cat dad sits do...

Artist Comments
"The elephant always hosted the best tea parties, everyone agreed," says artist Andrea Doss. "Her dream was to bake a cake taller than the giraffe, but she ha...

Artist Comments
A kindly middle-aged man holds his cat companion in this painting, depicting the artist Jessica JH Roller's husband with one of their family cats. The gentle ...

Artist Comments
A cat with striking blue eyes crouches against a vibrant yellow background. Bold, thick black lines outline its body, giving it a playful, cartoonish feel. Th...

Artist Comments
Artist Johansen Newman paints a portrait of a blonde tattooed woman in front of a wall of pictures. Two gray cats sit with the ...

Artist Comments
A purple Siamese cat sits upright against a vibrant turquoise background filled with coneflowers. Artist Jessica JH Roller emphasizes the similarity of forms ...

Artist Comments
Jessica JH Roller paints a self-portrait of a mastered yoga pose. It captures the geometric beauty of the posture called Ustrasana, or Camel. The subtle curve...

Artist Comments
Artist Jessica JH Roller began painting in Florida over two decades ago. As an Ohio native, she was surprised by the number of crows and ravens thriving in th...

Artist Comments
A woman gazes with intense blue eyes, her contemplative expression framed by luscious hair and a geometric-patterned earring. A white bird perches on her shou...

Artist Comments
Artist Sharon Sieben paints a gestural portrait of a nude woman gracefully undressing her white robe. The figure strikes a classic pose as she contemplates a ...

Artist Comments
This painting vividly captures an old, abandoned farmhouse in disrepair, its weathered wood a testament to time. Beside it, a rickety outhouse leans, equally ne...

Artist Comments
Artist Jessica JH Roller paints a portrait of a charming pair of long-bodied dogs. She draws inspiration from the jolly pet daschunds of her friend. Jessica's...

Artist Comments
"Just off Brady Street, in Milwaukee’s East Side, there used to be a place with class and style," says artist Leroy Burt. The store was a treasure trove of vintage goodies that were as fun to dig through as to wear. The shop was full of clothing, shoes, jewelry, and bags, some dating back to the golden days of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. The ceiling was pink and covered with toys, trinkets, signs, and other captivating eye candy.

About the Artist
Artist Leroy Burt paints playful, offbeat landscapes and portraits based on his experiences living in Milwaukee, New York, Costa Rica, and currently Rochester, Minnesota. "I think of my paintings as short stories," he says. As a young child, Leroy faced a number of obstacles. His parents divorced when he was four years old and he was raised by his grandparents in a three-room shack without running water or electricity. Leroy worked hard to pull himself out of poverty. He studied graphic design and painting, which led to a 30-year career in graphic design - five years at WMVS, the PBS television station in Milwaukee, fifteen years at city hall in Milwaukee, and ten years at WNET, the PBS station in New York. In 2015, Leroy retired to focus his energy on painting. Today, he works from a tiny studio filled with half-finished paintings stacked against every wall. "There are photos and sketches for future paintings taped everywhere," says Leroy. "My windows are filled with orchids. There are books, films and music CDs in every corner. And the room is dominated by a black and silver Andy Warhol silkscreen...

Artist Comments
"This lovely and graceful girl wearing her new red coat greets her smallest cat," says artist Jessica JH Roller. She holds her wide-eyed pet against her chest as if showing the viewer. The cat stares out with open curiosity. A delightful portrait using bold hues and painterly strokes.

About the Artist
A few months after Jessica JH Roller and her husband were married, they adopted two young Siamese cats from a shelter -- Tony and Larry. Jessica quickly fell deeply in love with the kittens and says the cats changed her. "They opened my eyes - I started to notice birds, trees, water, color, everything. It was as if the artist inside had been unleashed.” Jessica uses bold colors and primitive linework to create whimsical, expressive portraits. She intends to capture real or imagined moments that are both common and extraordinary.

Words that describe this painting: girl, folk art...

Artist Comments
Andrea Doss presents a whimsical fantasy piece of woodland animals playing musical instruments. The pale crescent moon gives a silvery glow as the raccoon, frog, and squirrel serenade at night. "Band practice was on every Tuesday and was usually a chaotic affair," says Andrea. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...

Artist Comments
A grey bird swoops past a dog and dives into a berry bush in artist Jaime Ellsworth's playful piece. The playful work captures the whimsical sense of their un...

Artist Comments
"On hot summer afternoons on the East Side of Milwaukee, a young man could often be seen carrying his pet Tegu lizard to Bradford Beach so it could bask in the sun," says artist Leroy Burt...

Artist Comments
"Nothing captures the excitement of New York City like Christmas ornaments in and around Times Square," says artist Leroy Burt. "Thi...

Artist Comments
"With the world asleep, the fox's senses are awakened," says artist Jessica JH Roller. Running free through the crisp evening air, the nocturnal creature frol...