Outsider Art

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Artist Libby Ramage presents an autumnal scene marked by large leaves falling from the sky. "As the sun fades, a young boy becomes the man," says Libby. Showi...

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Artist Pamela Hoke exhibits an alluring view of a blooming lotus flower. An expression of rising above adversity with gorgeous blos...

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A nude woman sits in an affecting posture, demonstrative of her feelings. Artist Sharon Sieben presents the expressive portrait evoking raw and powerful emotions. Her bold brushwork reveals an articulate and deep narrative. Sharon paints with strong strokes to create dynamic textures in the background.

About the Artist
Sharon Sieben prefers working in a loose, fluid technique and finds inspiration in the most unexpected things. Her parents bought her a set of oil paints when she was ten years old and it sparked her love of art. She especially admires the work of Impressionist artists such as Paul Cezanne because of how they broke tradition. When she's not making art, she enjoys reading and playing classical guitar...

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Artist Andrea Doss presents a whimsical narrative of a fairy reading a book to animals in the forest. "She read all sorts of books, but her favorite kind were...

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A dancing lady throws her arms in the air with fervor in artist Libby Ramage's mixed-media piece. The work expresses the exuberance of a young girl in a flowi...

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A pink chrysanthemum blooms in artist Pamela Hoke's lively floral piece. "An island friend gifted me with an enchanting autumnal bouquet from her farm," shares Pam. The playful waving magenta petals drew her attention and compelled her to paint the flower. Pam expresses the vibrant bloom in naturally flowing paint strokes.

About the Artist
Profound sensory experiences of nature unfold in artist Pamela Hoke's stylistically primitive representation of the world and her connection to it. Her vast array of subjects, including landscapes, florals, and animal portraits, emerge as intuitive expressions of energy in motion. She creates her own paint with natural earth and mineral pigments mixed with walnut oil—a beautiful and organic process used by the old masters. Pamela received her degree in fine arts at Ohio State University. Being fully immersed in the natural world ignited her creativity and increased her sense of belonging and overall well-being. She shares a semi-private studio with a group of painters on San Juan Island called the Friday Harbor...

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In this whimsical assemblage by artist Libby Ramage, a man and his pooch attempt to court the lady and her wolf with a song of love. "Maybe it's the wine talk...

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"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...

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Artist Jessica JH Roller paints a woman sitting on the ground with her legs crossed. Vibrant wildflowers in pink and red thrive all around her. "Summer is in ...

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"After a seemingly eternal summer, five little birds snug in their nest, silently enduring the chill and wind," describes artist Jessica JH Roller. The birds each carry a unique design, colored in similar hues of turquoise, black, beige, and brown. A bright band of orange and turquoise appears above the birds shifting into beige and dark green hues. A balanced composition painted in folk-art style with an energetic palette.

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: birds, winter, folk art, animals, primitive, nursery, kids, acrylicpaint, small, animals, primitive, acrylic painting, green

Winter Birds...

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This is the eighth in a series of pieces done from old photographs my mother took of the now extinct amusement park, Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio. Idora Pa...

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Artist Kira Yustak reveals a diverse perspective of a thriving forest. Inspired by her deep connection with the earth, Kira depicts a large root system below ...

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In this piece, artist Libby Ramage utilizes torn wine labels to define the two figures and their clothing. "A mother is scolding her child for the pile of torn paper at her feet while a guilty bunny in the lower right corner sneaks away," Libby explains of this playful collage.

About the Artist
Libby Ramage infuses a playful and whimsical mood into her works. In fact, she credits the children she works with for greatly influencing her aesthetic. She often uses children’s abandoned work in her collages. Libby currently lives in New Jersey and finds inspiration in the work of Rauschenberg. She believes collectors should buy from the heart.

Words that describe this painting: wine labels, bunny, mother, child, figurative, family, folk art, people, representational, primitive, mixed media artwork, beige

Bad Bunny...

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Artist Libby Ramage takes inspiration from her seventh-grade son's algebra homework. She imposes a sheet of equations on the face of a prince's portrait. Libb...

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"Three dogs created from the labels of Italian wines, primarily Chianti, meet to share the day's news," describes artist Libby Ramage. Utilizing paper, wine l...

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Artist Libby Ramage presents an image of two human figures and an insect. She paints the glove crimson and attaches beads and pages of a book for a revolution...

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"There is nothing better than welcoming a new day with the sun shining in a cloudless sky," says artist Pat Forbes. Topsy turvy monochrome structures in pale ...

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Artist Sharon Sieben paints a nude woman in the style of primitivism. The bold gestural strokes evoke raw and expressive emotions. "Something said or done does not meet with her approval," says Sharon. She uses thick layers of graphite and acrylic pigments to shape her vulnerable state.

About the Artist
Sharon Sieben prefers working in a loose, fluid technique and finds inspiration in the most unexpected things. Her parents bought her a set of oil paints when she was ten years old and it sparked her love of art. She especially admires the work of Impressionist artists such as Paul Cezanne because of how they broke tradition. When she's not making art, she enjoys reading and playing classical guitar...

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...

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The photographs that form the head of this catlike creature are images of the carousel from the amusement park Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio that is long go...

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"This piece is a pure expression of my delight from poppies," declares artist Pamela Hoke. She draws detailed focus to the elegant blossom's soft petals and ...

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Artist Pamela Hoke depicts a soft, moving embrace from a sunflower, one of her favorite flowers. She draws inspiration directly fro...

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Artist Lee Smith presents a mischievous-looking rabbit in the act of running away. She leaves out the pursuer from the composition, allowing the viewer to create their own narrative. Bold black linework with strategically placed teal accents outlines the patterned golden hues of the charming hare. The gray background allows the subject to take center stage, enhanced with a complex system of white tick marks, which add interest and help create the feeling of action and motion.

About the Artist
Artist Lee Smith combines abstract, expressionist, and gritty contemporary art in her work. “My style is greatly influenced by years spent in CGI production and an unapologetic love for the daily comics,” says Lee. As a keen observer, she finds her inspiration in the social aspects of life. Her work represents human emotions and portrays these emotions by illustrating the animal world, often using those popular companions—cats and dogs. In her long professional career, Lee has worked as a newspaper layout artist, a visual merchandising specialist, a freelance graphic artist, a technical illustrator, and an art director. Lee retired from the corporate world ten years ago to concentrate on her art career. “Although I studied art in college, I prefer to describe myself as 'self-taught.' Years of irreplaceable hands-on experience have provided an extensive and invaluable continuing education in the arts,” says Lee. When building her current home in Oregon, she added a small studio that she keeps organized and clutter-free. She wears her trusty paint-covered denim overall when working, and typically listens to audiobooks or podcasts. “I have dozens of paintbrushes in cans all over the studio, but I have only about 10 favorites that I always use.”

Words that describe this painting: rabbit, bunny, grin, teeth, eyes, pattern, running, run, leap, leaping, animal, ears, feet, legs, jack rabbit, mixed media, playful, animals, mixed media artwork, grey

The Getaway...

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Artist Pamela Hoke exhibits a striking image of a Gingko leaf. A potent painterly expression of the much adored and documented anci...

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A man collaged out of sheet music sings loudly in a visual stream of maps. His animal companion howls a silent tune. Artist Libby R...

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

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Artist Libby Ramage portrays the mischievous god, Eros in a quaint assemblage of wine labels and charcoal. Inspired by the illustrations on the wine label, Li...

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A bonsai tree glows in morning light, with rays of sun shining through the branches. "The painting is meant to show joy in the new day as it arrives with a po...