Art Hop 2013 and Upcoming

Art Hop 2013 was a stunning success. Many thanks to Scott Thompson and The Greater Largo Library Foundation and to John Dunn of Art Warehouse for the quick supplies that got me ready in time. The event occurred this past weekend, March 3rd at Largo Public Library. Opening to the public at 6:00PM the Art Hop had fewer exhibitors than last year, due in part to the economy, but this allowed the participants to further expand their exhibits. New to my show area this year was some custom signage designed in Photoshop CS6 and produced by my boss at FASTSIGNS of Lighthouse Point (my new employer). To my judgement, I believe we had better turn out in visitors this year, which resulted in higher sales for me. On that topic, I had offered, for the first time this year, photographic prints and reproductions of my pencil and charcoal sketches. The sketches actually oversold the photography to my surprise and, as I recall, there was a recurrence of the statements "my daughter will love this" and "This looks like my granddaughter." I'll have to devote some more time to drawing this year to boost my collection.

As I type this I'm preparing for my next installation which will be at Pinellas Park City Hall (7600 58th Street N, Pinellas Park, FL) for March 8th through May 8th. Likewise my work will be on display at Saint Petersburg College (9200 113th Street N, Seminole, FL, University Partnership Building) for two upcoming shows presented via my friend Brandy Stark - one hosted by the Exhibiting Society of Artists (Spring-themed) starting on the 16th and another upcoming to be hosted by The Pinellas Park Art Society. In addition to that there is also a plan for PPAS to install a 60-piece show at Stirling Studios Gallery this Fall (730 Broadway, Second Floor Gallery, Dunedin FL).

More news to come.

Thanks for reading!

(2C More art go to www.ArtofLylePolyak or www.TheMindscapeArtFoundry.com)

The News

New Year, New job, New plans, New opportunities, New… stuff.

2013 opened at a rapid pace with welcome changes, and I can now legally introduce myself as a Graphic Designer for the national signage and advertising firm FASTSIGNS. Included in the job description… the design and production of custom graphics, logos and backgrounds for tradeshow banners, window displays, billboards, menus, props, decals, vehicle graphics, wall art,… You name it, we print it or have a subsidiary that does it for us. FASTSIGNS presented me a welcome departure, well received, from previous careers that had no focus on art. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

My duties continue with the Pinellas Park Art Society. In addition to welcoming new members I have been seeking venues for the display of public art. The first of which was Largo Public Library’s Gallery 120. The Library welcomed thirty artists of PPAS, for a month long show in their spacious gallery wing and we eagerly await our next opportunity to display our work. If you own or work with a venue in Tampa Bay with ample wall space and an appreciation for fine art, send me an email. We at PPAS have the talent to give you a great exhibit.

It’s still only January and already my works have hung in Ruth Eckerd Hall, Park station, Largo Public Library, Suntan Art Center, The Menaul Fine Art Gallery and more, but 2013 shall be a year when I aim to do more with my art. I’m reaching out to my peers for critique, and taking up, anew, many of the artistic genres that I enjoyed prior to college…  Charcoal, Pencils, Pen and ink, Pastels. My sketches have hung in Park Station and Suntan Gallery in previous shows, but I hesitate to give my sketches equal billing, beside my photography, until I know that others view them as quality art. (In truth, my drawing style arises from the techniques I have learned from many different peers and professors. Some of those instructors emphasized point perspective and the golden ratio, others insisted that art based on math is “cold” and encouraged emotion at the expense of perspective. Not all the techniques I learned work well together. So I aim to attain “the nod of approval” from at least a few peers who owe their good reputation to similar art.) Perhaps soon I will have online galleries devoted to sketches as well?

Thanks for reading

L Polyak

Below: Anatomy of a work in progress

(2 C More Art go to www.themindscapeartfoundry.com or www.artoflylepolyak.com)

PPAS Art Fair 2012 Photo Album

Please enjoy the below photos taken at the Pinellas Park Art Society's 2012 Art Fair.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Yours Truly, Lyle Polyak

(2 C More Art go to www.artoflylepolyak.com or www.themindscapeartfoundry.com)

"Filling Station" Places in Top Three

On June second The Pinellas Park Art Society opened its Annual Photo Contest at Park Station with the results of the judging announced at the gathering on the eleventh of June. The Exhibit was open to submissions not only from Art Society Memebers but also photographers throughout Pinellas County and Tampa Bay. Submissions were permitted in three categories including standard (color) photography, digitally enhanced photographs and black and whites. When the results were announced I was enjoying the sights of Historic Saint Augustine with my family and my trusty camera and, as luck would have, while I was away, I placed in the top three for the black and white category. Second prize in black and white went to "Filling Station," a custom-sized monochrome print of three model-T's refuling at Largo's Heritage Village. It's a great honor and the same photograph will soon appear at Carrollwood Cultural Center's September Art Exhibit. See you there?

(2 C More Art go to www.artoflylepolyak or www.themindscapeartfoundry.com)



The Beach Art Center

I just returned home from the Beach Arts Center. What a showing they had at reception night! A casual, yet bustling crowd of artists and curious onlookers arrived to view the art which ranged from sketches to paintings in watercolor, oil and acrylic to photography, three dimensional wall art and a life-sized, free standing Tiki statue adorned in lights and basked in the wispy clouds of a fountain mist-maker. I recognized a few familiar faces from The Pinellas Park Art Society as well. Quite the collection of fine art and imaginative minds. I have secured my application and will be joining the Beach Art Center as a new member so that I can showcase art in another popular venue. Thanks to all for a wonderful evening!

(The following snapshots are taken from my smartphone)

Thanks for reading!

(2 C More art go to www.artoflylepolyak.com or www.themindscapeartfoundry.com)

An Art Museum's Revival

As quoted from a 2009 Saint Petersburg Times News Article -  "Struggling with low attendance, the Gulf Coast Museum abruptly closed its doors for good Monday, "a sad and disappointing end," according to a statement sent to its members." The campus of the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, on the Grounds of the beautiful Florida Botanical Gardens and the historic Heritage Village, has been abandoned for these last three years.

Now under the care of a dedicated local, the campus will be re-opened a serve a goal both educational and artistic. The Florida Gulf Coast Center For Fishing will call the old museum its home and feature educational programs, artistic opportunities and attractions to area enthusiasts and visitors.

The New Museum's founders have published - "The mission is to establish a multipurpose Center for fishing activity, dedicated to introducing and teaching children about life through fishing, and a training center for adults, in conjunction with an Interactive Museum commemorating the past, present and future of fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast... The Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing and Interactive Museum is housed in an architecturally award winning 30,000 square foot educational complex complete with an auditorium, classrooms, historical and marine art galleries, seafood cafe’, marine store and fishing lake."

The gallery, truly museum sized, will house the work of local artists, some of them, like myself, from the Pinellas Park Art Society and other local groups and well as private artists. As of now, I have eight works due to be installed. It will be a pleasure to see this Museum take shape again and it's already a great honor to be among the first artists offered this opportunity.

Empty walls soon to be filled. 

Empty walls soon to be filled.

The grounds.

  The grounds.

  The grounds.

  The grounds.

 The grounds.

Thanks for reading.

(2 C more art go to www.artoflylepolyak.com or www.themindscapeartfoundry.com)

Live from England Brother's Park!

This post is coming to you from Pinellas Park's England Brother's Park where the city is hosting the Country in the Park Fest. It's a beautiful day, the band is playing from the stage, there's and assortment of fair foods - Funnel cakes and strawberry shortcakes to my right, burgers and bar-b-que to my left. I'm presenting here with the Pinellas Park Art Society and we have an assortment of art today, come out and see us - we're under the blue tents. I've got a collection of matted photos for sale today and some new gallery wraps.

Thanks for Reading!

(2 C More art go to www.artoflylepolyak.com or www.themindscapeartfoundry.com)