INSTRUCTORS

DONNA LEVINE ~ PAINTING & DRAWING

Donna is dedicated to teaching the veterans, she states “I have been painting for over 50 years and teaching for over 40, and have a Master’s Degree in Painting, which I did in Florence, Italy. I exhibit regularly throughout Arizona and my work is in collections in Arizona,   California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

I have taught Drawing, Life Drawing, Composition and Design, Oil and Acrylic Painting, Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Pastel, Color Theory, Print Making and even Sculpture. Because of this, I am a very good critique teacher. I love to teach others to access the joy.”

 

HAL STEWART ~ SCULPTING

Hal, a Navy Veteran, has been teaching veteran AHAF classes since 2009. Even as a child playing in the creeks and streams of southern Illinois, Hal would often make small figures from the clay found there, leaving them to harden in the sun.

As an adult, his talent was put on hold as life intruded.  Hal served in the U.S. Navy and attended college before moving to Arizona in 1968.  He spent his entire working life in sales and service in the construction industry.  While working full time, he owned a small farm and ranch in southeastern Arizona and raised show horses in the Phoenix area. He also rode, in full Nez Perce Indian regale, in the first Fiesta Bowl Parade held in Phoenix.

Only after retirement did his love of sculpting reappear. With encouragement from a friend, he produced his first real sculpture entitled “Treaty Talker”.  The quick selling success of that piece led to his continuation in sculpting.  Today, he has produced over 30 bronzes with an eclectic subject matter ranging from cowboys and horses, to Native American Indians, birds, and animals.

In his artistic career, Hal gives generously of his time. For four years he was a volunteer art teacher to incarcerated youths at an Arizona’s juvenile detention center.  He has been guest speakers at numerous art clubs and organizations.  As a veteran himself, he is currently involved in teaching sculpting to disabled American Veterans.

The winner of numerous awards, he was selected by the United States Park Service to be the artist-in-residence for the summer of 2005 at the north rim of The Grand Canyon. Today, one of his pieces entitled “Chasing Star Kachina” is in the permanent art collection of the U.S. Government and is displayed at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.His sculptures are found in private collections, Corporate Offices, and galleries throughout the world.  A visit with this interesting individual reveals his optimistic view of the world.

RON HEAD ~ SCULPTING

Ron has a passionate support of our mission, which is evidenced by his generous donation of a bronze sculpture. Ron was inspired to create the piece on the day the events of 911 unfolded. The bronze is of a firefighter with his protecting angel surrounding his shoulders.

He has always been involved with non verbal communication; continually seeking a path to connection through art. The Artist has devoted his life to creating sculptures and paintings hoping to “touch the heart of another.”

Ron is a nationally acclaimed and award winning artist who grew up in West Michigan before settling in Arizona. He still maintains a studio in West Michigan and exhibits in both Michigan and Arizona as well as New Mexico. The artist invites commissions for murals as well as paintings and sculptures in both bronze and one of a kind terracotta.

GUADALUPE APODACA ~ OIL PAINTING

Guadalupe, a former Marine, was born in Fort Collins, Colorado. He began drawing as soon as he could pick up a pencil, supporting himself in construction while developing his artistic skills at night.

Guadalupe’s break came when the late George Cherapov, a well known Russian Artist, employed him to assist his plein air classes in Vermont in turn afforded him the opportunity to focus on his artistic passion full time. He did not look back, and became an acclaimed member and recipient of numerous awards from the Pastel Society of America and juried shows across the United States. His original oils and pastels are found in some the finest homes and Corporations in America and Mexico.

 

SARGE LINTECUM ~ CREATIVE WRITING, POETRY & HARMONICA

Sarge, a three-tour Vietnam Combat Veteran (Purple Heart & Good Conduct Medal), has taken his war experiences and turned his pain into art and using it to help his fellow comrades.

As a Blues singer and slam poet, Sarge is excited to  join forces with the American Healing Arts Foundation; We are proud and honored to have him share his talent with our veterans!

This plaque, located at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, is part of a monument honoring Arizona Women Veterans.  ~ Verse written by Sarge Lintecum.

Invisible Soldier

You can tell her by the twinkle in her eye,
At parades when the flag marches by.
She served our country and she served it very well.
Some have even served a tour or two in Hell.

She suffered hardship and never ceased to care.
It gave us strength just to know that she was there.

She was a leader, you could tell by the rank she wore,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

She can march, she can fly, and she can sail.
She proved that bravery isn’t exclusive of the male.
She did every job she was asked and more,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

Now, it is finally time to right a wrong.
Honor our sister soldier; hear her song.
It’s very clear that she’s a patriot to the core.
Don’t let her be the invisible soldier anymore.

Sarge Lintecum

 

MICHAEL & AMBER CROSS ~ BASIC DANCE MOVES

Michael and Amber have been dancing together for 25 years and teaching professionally for the last 12 years. Though they trained in all the ballroom dances, but West Coast Swing became their specialty.  Within their first year together, they became National Swing Champions and since then have won First Place titles at every major Swing event in the country.

Michael and Amber are retired from competition but continue to teach and judge at national events.  The Crosses relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1997 from Denver, Colorado, where they co-founded the RMSC and began teaching and hosting dances. Their “home” is now the VFW Post #720, where they offer group classes and private lessons as well as weekly dances.

WILTIS ‘ WOLF’ WHITE – COMIC BOOK SCRIPT WRITING & DRAWING

Hi. My name is Wiltis, but you can call me ‘Wolf’. I am part Navajo & Scottish. Raised on the reservation of Gallup, New Mexico, my first language is Navajo Athabaskan (which incidentally utilized in the Korean War for ‘code-talking’. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, and I took some Life drawing classes at Mesa Community College (AZ).

For the most part, I profess, pretty much being self-taught on my own accord.We must each make an account of the gifts we have been given in this life. (Luke 19:11) Though we all must face a barrage different trials and tribulations or even face the demons of our own hell and bear the cross of that, which we have passed through. Let us not forget that, “We” as human beings, have been given the ‘power’ to do all things, through our living, Spirit-Will and that, of our individual abilities that we each possess within us; have been allotted a measured portion from the Almighty Giver of Life!

RON BUKSBAUM ~ DRAWING & MULTI MEDIA

Army veteran and Professor of Fine Art.

Ron Buksbaum was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He graduated from the Chicago Academy of Art. He served in the US Army during the Korean Occupation. He was attached to the Korean National Police and Fire Dept. He was decorated by the Korean Government for his actions during hazardous duty. He returned to the U.S and continued his interrupted studies/education. Ron received B.F.A. degree from the University of Illinois. He continued on to graduate school and received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Following completion of his education, Ron and his wife travelled to Europe by freighter and lived in youth hostels for the better part of a year. He settled in Alicante, Spain living in a studio apartment for four months and continued painting and drawing. Upon his return to the US, Ron spent 5 years in art museum work and went on to a teaching post as Professor of Fine Arts for 30 years. Upon retirement he and his wife moved to Scottsdale, AZ where he maintains an art studio and home

 

PAUL HAWKINS ~ STONE CARVING

Paul Hawkins is an army veteran. “I was raised in the green granite mountains of Vermont. One of my early memories is of my family picking blueberries on the slopes of an abandoned marble quarry. The only thing I have left of those early years is a small piece of white Vermont marble with my initials carved in it.

In the mid sixties in California I was attending a Junior College on the G.I. Bill and worked some Alabaster in a sculpture class and brushed against my original passion. What was more important was that I knew where to find some, which I did, and brought it back to the Northern California hot springs where I was trying to soak my attitude away. My father, at one point, made wooden bowls at the Weston bowl mill in Vermont, so I made bowls. It was a good start. For the next three years I lived in my truck, traveling north in the summer, south in the winter, carving Alabaster, searching for Alabaster and learning how to sell what I made. Then I met Susan and it all changed. We became creative partners, performing an aesthetic leapfrog into a hundred different forms that we’re still working on in the series.

Stone speaks. As a child, I was fascinated with the deep grooves running across hundreds of feet of granite slope near my home, glacial gouges carving an elemental material. I think of myself more as a stone carver than a sculptor. I enjoy celebrating the material, its form, color, figure, surface.

Although the core of my work is utilitarian, several series that I’m involved with are representational. Since I live in Arizona where the bones of the earth are visible everywhere, its only natural that I carve them in stone. They are quite complex forms, carved separately as mountains, boulders, cracks and crevasses, desert gardens with cacti and gem stone flowers. The sculptures are then joined together to form desert landscapes that are four feet or more across.”

SUSAN QUINN BYRD, PHOTOGRAPHY, REDEFINING IMAGES

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE published and award-winning fine art photographer SUSAN QUIN BYRD travels the US and world to make dramatic images of interesting people, places, nature, and wildlife. Images that celebrate the spirit and beauty of the American West and horses in action are just one of Susan’s specialties. In addition to making natural photographs, she also creates contemporary one-of-a-kind artistic works of photographic fine art. Using innovative digital techniques, Susan creates drama and artistic background effects in many of her amazing images or enhances the light to bring the viewers eye to the subject. With limited editions of ten, most images are printed on either archival canvas as gallery wraps or on metallic photo paper which is then adhered to black sintra board or ¼” copper or silver dibond forming a 3” salon mount.

Her photographic skills were developed in-part from training by master photographers from National Geographic Magazine and the prestigious Santa Fe Photographic Workshops among others.

PHOTO SOCIETY of AMERICA:2010 Directors Choice best photoplus an HM in International Competition; various Sweepstakes & First Awards over the years.

Born in Spokane, Washington, Susan holds a University of Idaho BS Cum Laude Degree in Education and Home Economics

DEBRA LEE MURROW, COLORME PEN & INK

Debra Lee Murrow is a fine artist specializing in pen & ink. She started her style of art in 2000 after a revelation of the power of words and hence her art is made up of words and phrases mixed together to create the context of a larger art piece.

Debra details out a “pre-made” canvas in black and white, so to speak, for others to “be the artist” and create over her designs. People have categorized her drawings to fall under “adult coloring”. These drawings/paintings range from postcard size to large canvases, she uses her art to help people / organizations raise money and give a fun interesting twist to any party or event.

Along with creating on paper and canvas she has discover the wonders of Shrinky Dink material – it’s a plastic sheet that you bake after creating on it. It has been a favorite of hers and many others since about 2005. She creates necklaces, ornaments, birth announcements, room decor and many other fun projects.

Her work has been displayed & sold all over at art fairs, silent auctions and artist workshops. Debra has also taught her style of art through her workshop called “The ‘COLORME’ Art Spa” to church groups, women’s organizations and social outing companies, among others.

 

 

MARTY WHITE, MOSAIC TILE

Art has been a passion of mine since I was able to walk. My appreciation of Art has grown through my education, teaching, the museums, galleries, artist’s homes, festivals, schools, and architectural wonders that I have visited on my world travels.

Through the years, I have been a Teacher, Collector, Business Owner and a part time Artist. It has been my life-long desire to become a full time working artist. My passion has always been creating art pieces with my hands, thus, Scottsdale Collectables was created. It seemed the dirtier I got the more fun and creative I became! Then I was introduced and inspired to my core, by gourds!

Education:
Bachelors in Art Education, Masters work in Art Education
Affiliates:
Sonoran Arts League, American Gourd Society, Arizona Gourd Society, Scottsdale Art League

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